03/08/2026
Short play
My Neighbor, My Trouble
Characters:
• MAMA BLESSING - 40s, petty trader, loud, sells provisions • JENNY - late 20s, female fashion designer, just did BBL, always with scissors around her neck
SCENE 1 - OUTSIDE COMPOUND - AFTERNOON
[Two small shops side by side. Mama Blessing's table is blocking half of Jenny's entrance.]
MAMA BLESSING: (shouting) Jenny! How many times I go tell you? No use my front dey display your mannequin!
JENNY: Aunty Blessing abeg, na small space I manage. Your gala and pure water don block my customers since morning.
MAMA BLESSING: Your customers? Na who wan buy that your oversize gown wey you sew? Fashion designer wey no fit sew straight seam!
JENNY: You call me quack? Aunty wey dey sell expired biscuit? Make you shift your market commot for my shop!
SCENE 2 - ARGUMENT ESCALATES
[They face each other, neighbors gather.]
MAMA BLESSING: I be your senior for this yard oh! No get respect!
JENNY: Seniority no be by noise! I pay my rent complete!
[Mama Blessing pushes Jenny's mannequin, it falls. Jenny vexes and pushes Mama Blessing back.]
NEIGHBOR: Make una leave am! Una go injure each other!
SCENE 3 - THE FIGHT
[Jenny holds her tailoring scissors out of fear, Mama Blessing grabs her wrapper. They tussle.]
JENNY: Leave my cloth! Leave me!
[In the struggle, Jenny swings with the scissors and hits Mama Blessing on the face. Mama Blessing screams, picks a sharp trader tool from her table and stabs Jenny back on the buttocks.]
MAMA BLESSING: You stab me for face? I no send your BBL oh!
JENNY: (crying) My yansh! My expensive yansh! Jesus!
SCENE 4 - AFTERMATH
[Neighbors separate them. Both bleeding small, sitting on ground. Caretaker enters.]
CARETAKER: Una two don mad finish! For ordinary space! Now na police station una go go!
MAMA BLESSING: (holding face) She first start am!
JENNY: (holding back) She spoil my body!
[Fade out with siren sound]
END CARD: Small quarrel fit cause big wound. Talk, no fight.
