Ruby's Leaf Collection

[The scene begins on a very cold fall day. Max and Ruby are running around trying to catch some leaves. As Max catches it, Ruby wants to see it]

Ruby: Just a minute, Max. I have to check out this leaf.

[Ruby plays with the leaf]

Ruby: OK, you can have it. I've already got one of those. (catches another leaf) Summer is over and today is the new season. Do you know what the new season is called, Max?

[Max shakes his head no]

Ruby: It's called the fall and you know what happens in the fall?

[Max still shakes his head no]

Ruby: The weather starts getting colder, and makes the tree shake and shudder, and all their leaves fall off.

Max: Fall.

Ruby: Right. And then when the leaves fall, we have to make a leaf collection book for the school. This is how we collect them. I have to collect as many different kinds of leaves as I can. One of each kind of tree in the neighborhood. If I ever talked about it, I am pretty sure we see everything indeed. I have lots of leaves to find, except the copper beech, the Japanese maple, and the rarest of all, the bigtooth aspen. If I ever find all of them, I will be the best leaf collector in the whole class. Not even the wees have a bigtooth aspen leaf. I am going to find them all. Max?

[Max puts more leaves into the pile]

Max: Fall.

Ruby: Right. I'll bet there may be copper beech leaf in this pile. (Ruby keeps finding the wrong leaves) Hmmm, I don't need that one. I've got that one, and I don't need that one.

[Max rakes up the leaves]

Ruby: (gasps) I think that's the copper beech. I have to see if it fits. There. I found that copper beech leaf. That was so much fun, I think I am doing very good.

[Max puts more leaves on the pile]

Max: Fall.

Ruby: Wow, that pile of leaves is getting pretty big. I bet there might be a Japanese maple leaf here. (she searches but couldn't find it) That's not it. Neither is that. I've got that one.

[Max puts leaves on his toy truck]

Ruby: (gasps) If I remembered correctly, I bet there may be right shape for this leaf. Here it is.

Max: Vroom-vroom! [Max backs up his truck and puts more leaves into the pile] Fall.

Ruby: Max, you've done leaves on top of my leaf collection book.

[Max looked around but goes off]

Ruby: Where is it? There's so many leaves, I can't find it.

Max: Vroom-vroom!

Ruby: Oh, there it is. Now where did I put my Japanese maple leaf? (it was in her pocket) Phew! I still got it. (She puts it in the shape) There, that's just a perfect place for that leaf to live on.

[Max got more leaves ready]

Ruby: Now I just have to find the bigtooth aspen leaf.

[As Ruby caught it, she sees Max putting more leaves]

Ruby: Max, we got big enough pile of leaves for now.

[Then she sees the leaf falling to the ground]

Ruby: (gasps) I think that's it!

[Suddenly the leaf vanishes]

Ruby: Uh oh. Where did it go?

[Then she sees Max with a wheelbarrow ready to put some more leaves on the pile]

Ruby: Stop right there, Max. You don't need to put any more leaves on this pile. The bigtooth aspen leaf has to be here somewhere. (Max gets closer) Not another step, Max. In fact, why don't you take a step back from the pile.

[Max moves back]

Ruby: The slightest breeze could move those leaves and I'll lose my bigtooth aspen leaf for good. You can even take a few more steps back just to be on the safe side.

[Max moves back again]

Ruby: That's good, Max.

[Max sees a leaf and catches it]

Ruby: Here's the leaf! I'm just gonna double check with this bigtooth aspen leaf.

[Max catches after the leaf]

Ruby: OK, it should look like this.

[Man gets the leaf and sits down]

Ruby: That's it. I found that bigtooth aspen leaf. Now I am the best leaf collector of the whole class. (then Max disappeared) Max? Max? (he was going to jump into the pile) Max! No! (he jumps into the leaf pile and the leafs were flying around)

Ruby: (gasps) (groans) I was so close to be the best leaf collector in the whole class. Now I'll never find the bigtooth aspen leaf.

[Later on the leaf came back and lands on her nose]

Ruby: I can't believe it, that might be a bigtooth aspen leaf. How on Earth did that happen?

Max: Fall!

(Ruby giggles)