Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

John Avery Whitaker: Oh, hi there. I'm John Avery Whitaker, but you can call me Whit. We were just getting ready for a time of wonder, excitement, and discovery. You care to join us? You never know what'll happen next when you have an adventure in Odyssey.

Danny: I gave Donnie Shipley a fat lip because he wouldn't tell me he loved me. Punch! Yeah. He lost your cork. No. Out of bed. Boogabooga! Ah! I suspect it's just boy stuff.

Danny: No!

Stephen: Danny, what's wrong with you?

Danny: I don't want to go to school.

Stephen: Why not? Are you sick?

Danny: Yeah.

Stephen: Are you?

Danny: No.

Stephen: Danny...

Danny: I just don't want to go.

Stephen: Why not? Do you have a test you didn't study for?

Danny: No.

Stephen: You're not sick. You don't have a test. What is it, Danny?

Danny: I just don't want to.

Stephen: I'm sorry, but you have to. Now get out of bed.

Danny: No, I can't.

Stephen: Danny!

Mary: What in the world is going on in here?

Stephen: Danny doesn't want to go to school.

Mary: Why not?

Stephen: He won't say.

Mary: Danny, you have to go to school.

Danny: Why?

Mary: Because you need your education in order to get a good job so you can take care of your parents in their old age. Out of bed.

Danny: No!

Mary: Danny, don't force me to do something we'll both regret. Get out of bed and get ready for school now.

Stephen: Danny, you heard your father.

Danny: Okay, I'm going. I'm going.

Mr. Richards: That's it. Out for recess, unless you're rehearsing for the play. It's a little cool today, so don't forget your coats. Hold on, Danny Schmidt. I want to see you.

Danny: Yes, Mr. Richards?

Mr. Richards: An explanation, please.

Danny: Huh?

Mr. Richards: The sunglasses.

Danny: It's bright in here.

Mr. Richards: Take them off.

Danny: But why?

Mr. Richards: Because I asked you to.

Danny: But I can't. You see, I have an eye problem.

Mr. Richards: Eye problem? What kind of eye problem?

Danny: A problem with my eye.

Mr. Richards: Take them off, Danny.

Danny: Well...

Mr. Richards: Take them off or you'll stay in for recess.

Danny: I'm going to miss recess anyway if you make me take them off.

Mr. Richards: Let's have them.

Danny: Okay, here.

Mr. Richards: Danny, what happened to your eye?

Danny: I told you I had an eye problem.

Mr. Richards: My word, I have never seen such a shiner. Did somebody punch you?

Danny: I tripped on the way to school and I hit a rock.

Mr. Richards: It looks awful. Come on, I'm taking you to the school nurse.

Danny: No, really. I don't need a nurse, honest.

Mr. Richards: I want your eye looked at. Now come on, and I want you to tell me how it really happened.

Chris: Are you looking for stories that inspire, entertain, and ignite your imagination? Check out Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family. Along the way, you'll meet our friends John Avery Whitaker, Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, and Wooton Bassett in a world where faith, fun, and family are exciting pieces of every adventure.

Whether you're solving mysteries, learning life lessons, or just having a great laugh, Adventures in Odyssey brings biblical values to every episode.

Mrs. Hughes: Thank you for coming in, Mrs. Schmidt.

Mary: Is something wrong with Danny? I didn't understand what you said on the phone.

Mrs. Hughes: Well, don't worry. It's just that these days we principals take no chances about things like this.

Mary: Things like what?

Mrs. Hughes: I suspect it's just boy stuff. Messing around or roughhousing, but Danny wound up with a black eye.

Mary: A black eye? He got it here at school?

Mrs. Hughes: No. Apparently he got it before he came.

Mary: But I saw him this morning. He was fine.

Mrs. Hughes: Then he must have gotten it on the way to school. He wouldn't tell us anything about it, which is why I called you. Has he been having problems with bullies?

Mary: Not that I know of. But he did put up a fight about going to school this morning. He kept saying he didn't want to go but wouldn't say why. I wonder... where is he? I want to see him.

Mrs. Hughes: He's in the nurse's office.

Mary: Danny?

Danny: Hi, Mom. Look at this neat book. It's all about skeletons.

Mary: Put the book down, sweetheart. I want you to tell me about your black eye.

Danny: I was running through the woods and a branch hit me.

Mary: Really? You said you fell on a rock earlier.

Danny: Oh, yeah. I fell on a rock and then the branch hit me.

Mary: Danny, you know how your father and I feel when you lie to us.

Danny: Yeah.

Mary: And you're lying now, aren't you?

Danny: Yeah.

Mary: Before you get punished for lying, I'll give you one last chance to tell the truth. How did you get that black eye?

Danny: Somebody hit me.

Mary: Who?

Danny: I can't tell. Please don't make me tell.

Mary: Danny, this is very important.

Danny: No, please. Don't make me tell.

Mary: All right, we'll get to that later. Just answer some other questions first. When did you get punched?

Danny: This morning.

Mary: Where?

Danny: In the eye.

Mary: I mean where were you when you got hit?

Danny: In the woods.

Mary: Walking to school?

Danny: Uh-huh.

Mary: Do you have any idea why someone would punch you?

Danny: They keep following me.

Mary: They? There's more than one person?

Danny: No, just one. But I can't tell you who.

Mary: Stay calm, Danny. How long has this person been following you?

Danny: Every day through the woods.

Mary: Why didn't you stop walking through the woods? You could have gone the long way around to get to school.

Danny: I did, but they follow me anyway.

Mary: Why? Why did this person follow you?

Danny: I can't tell you.

Mary: You have to tell me, Danny. We can't let this person get away with following you and punching you.

Mrs. Hughes: Is it an adult, or a teenager, or another student? You can tell us that much.

Danny: It's another kid.

Mrs. Hughes: From our school?

Danny: No.

Mary: Big kid, little kid?

Danny: Bigger than me.

Mary: Someone you know?

Danny: I've never seen her before.

Mary: Her? Is a girl beating you up, Danny?

Danny: I don't want to talk about this anymore.

Mary: You have to, son.

Danny: I can't.

Mary: A girl punched you in the eye and you're embarrassed. Is that it?

Danny: I don't want to talk about it.

Mary: That's all right. Don't be embarrassed. There's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Danny: But she's a girl.

Mary: That's all right. Girls sometimes beat up boys. It happens.

Danny: She kept following me in the woods and then she said I was cute and she wanted me to say that I liked her and I wouldn't. So she pushed me around and I ran away. But she's there every morning. I went the other way around and she follows me.

And this morning I tried to run as fast as I could but she caught up and said she'd punch me if I didn't say I liked her. I said no and then she punched me in the eye.

Mary: You should have told us, Danny.

Danny: I couldn't.

Mary: Because it was embarrassing?

Danny: Yeah. It's bad enough being hit by a girl. The kids will laugh at me if they find out I got punched by one.

Mary: Oh, Danny. Don't worry about what the kids will do. Don't ever let what the other kids think stop you from telling us things. Do you understand?

Danny: Uh-huh.

Mary: Well, what do we do now, Mrs. Hughes?

Mrs. Hughes: Now that I understand what happened, I suppose we call the police.

Mary: The police?

Mrs. Hughes: Well, they can check the woods to see if a young girl is there, maybe skipping classes from another school.

Mary: But the police? That seems so drastic.

Mrs. Hughes: Oh, they'll just check it out. It won't be a big deal. You want your son to be safe, don't you?

Mary: Yes, of course.

Mrs. Hughes: Well, then let's see what the police can do.

Stephen: Danny, let's go. We're going to be late. What's he doing up there?

Mary: Poor little guy. This is tough for him.

Stephen: I know. But I thought he'd feel better when I said I'd drive him to school. Danny!

Danny: Here I am.

Stephen: Well, it's about... Danny, why aren't you dressed?

Danny: I don't think I should go to school today.

Stephen: What?

Mary: Danny, there's nothing to worry about. I'm going to drive you to school, all right? Now get upstairs and get dressed. You're going to make me late for work.

Danny: But I don't want to go.

Stephen: Not that again.

Mary: Sweetheart, you're perfectly safe. You don't have to worry about that girl.

Danny: I know, but what about the kids? They're going to know that I got a black eye from a girl and tease me.

Mary: They won't tease you.

Danny: Yes, they will.

Mary: Mr. Richards won't let them.

Danny: He can't stop them all the time. They'll laugh at me.

Stephen: Danny, you can't stop going to school because of this. Now get dressed.

Danny: I don't want to.

Stephen: I don't care whether you want to or not. You have to. Now turn around and get—Hello? Yes, it's Stephen. Right now? Yes, of course. We'll come right away. Bye. I guess school will have to be postponed for the moment.

Mary: What happened?

Stephen: This morning they went into the woods where Danny walks and found a girl hiding there. They want Danny to come identify her.

Detective Aldridge: Well, thank you for coming in. I think we have everything we need.

Mary: That's it?

Detective Aldridge: The paperwork's taken care of. Danny's identified the girl, and her parents have come to get her. That's all we need.

Stephen: Seems simple enough.

Detective Aldridge: You know, you were very brave today, Danny.

Danny: Are you going to put her in jail?

Detective Aldridge: Do you really want her to go to jail?

Danny: No.

Detective Aldridge: I didn't think so.

Stephen: But who is she? What did she want?

Detective Aldridge: Her name is Melissa Bowler and she goes to McAllister Elementary School. Well, that's where she's supposed to go. Apparently, she's been going down to the woods where Danny walks in order to skip. That's where she saw Danny.

And as it sometimes happens with girls that age, she developed a crush on him because she thought he was so cute. I don't blame her. Pushing him around was the only way to get his attention.

Stephen: Doesn't that seem strange?

Detective Aldridge: No, not really. When I was six years old, I gave Donnie Shipley a fat lip because he wouldn't tell me he loved me.

Mary: What happens next, Detective Aldridge?

Detective Aldridge: Since you're not pressing charges, we've warned the girl and her parents to be sure she gets to school on time and to keep her away from your son.

Stephen: Well, good.

Mary: We're certainly glad that's over. Aren't you, Danny? Danny? Aren't you glad it's over?

Danny: Uh-huh.

Mr. Richards: Danny, Danny.

Danny: Yes, Mr. Richards?

Mr. Richards: What are you doing?

Danny: My schoolwork.

Mr. Richards: You mean homework. And isn't that where you should be going, is home?

Danny: Can't I stay here and work a little bit longer?

Mr. Richards: Well, all the rest of the kids have gone home and I'm about to go too.

Danny: Oh.

Mr. Richards: Are you waiting for your parents?

Danny: No, I didn't want them to have to come and pick me up.

Mr. Richards: Would you want me to drive you?

Danny: No thank you. I can walk.

Mr. Richards: Are you sure?

Danny: Yeah, I was just trying to stop my heart from beating so fast.

Mr. Richards: Are you scared?

Danny: A little.

Mr. Richards: But that girl won't bother you anymore. She wouldn't dare. I'm sure the police scared her off.

Danny: I know, but maybe she doesn't care what the police say.

Mr. Richards: I'm sure she does. Wouldn't you stop doing something if the police took you to the police station and said to stop?

Danny: Yeah.

Mr. Richards: Well, then I'm sure the girl will too. I can give you a lift.

Danny: No, thank you. If you give me a ride, then everybody will know that I'm still afraid, and I'm not afraid.

Mr. Richards: Good for you.

Danny: I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid. Who's there? I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid. Who's there? Who's following me?

No! Melissa, leave me alone! Leave me alone! Oh, my side. Where are my books? What? What is that? Oh no, it's her. She's going to beat me up again. Please, no. I'm sorry. Please don't. Don't hurt me. Please don't hurt me. Please, please!

Whit: Danny!

Danny: Ah!

Whit: Danny, it's all right. Calm down. It's only me.

Danny: Mr. Whitaker?

Whit: Well, who'd you think it was?

Danny: I think I'm going to be sick.

Whit: Oh, just be still and try to calm down. It's all right. I'm sorry if I scared you. I was taking a walk and, boy, you're as white as a sheet. Are you sure you're all right?

Danny: I don't know. I was just so scared. I didn't know if it was her. I was trying not to be afraid.

Whit: Oh, come here, Danny. Come here. It's all right. It's all right.

Danny: I'm sorry.

Whit: Don't apologize. You got a little scared, that's all. Now, why don't you tell me what's going on?

Whit: Well, it sounds like you've been through a lot over the past couple of days. No wonder you got yourself so worked up.

Danny: But I shouldn't have been afraid. The police told her to leave me alone.

Whit: Well, that doesn't mean your fear will go away. That may take some time.

Danny: But I can't keep being a chicken. I don't want my dad to have to drive me to school all the time.

Whit: Oh, I'm sure he'll be happy to do it as long as you need him to. But maybe there are a couple of things you can do to help the process along.

Danny: Like what?

Whit: Well, for one thing, it'll help you if you remember that God loves you and is with you no matter what happens. Do you think about that?

Danny: Sort of.

Whit: Sort of, huh? Well, I find that when I get scared, I—

Danny: You get scared?

Whit: Sometimes. Maybe not for the same reason as you, but things can frighten me. Anyway, it always helps me to remember that God is by my side, no matter what happens, good or bad. Whether you're walking through the woods or crawling into bed when the room is dark, God is there. Understand?

Danny: God is there.

Whit: I even memorized a verse from the Bible to help me remember. It's Isaiah 41:10. God is talking and he said, "Have no fear, for I am with you. Be not afraid, for I am your God. I shall strengthen you and give you help, and uphold you with my victorious right hand."

Danny: You memorized all that?

Whit: Uh-huh. And you can too.

Danny: I don't know.

Whit: I'll tell you what. I'll walk you home and we'll see if you can get it memorized before you get there. Okay?

Danny: I'll try.

Whit: Good. Let's go. Isaiah 41:10. Have no fear, for I am with you.

Danny: Isaiah 41:10. Have no fear, for I am with you.

Guest (Male): In Adventures in Odyssey's Album 76, *Keep It Together*, experience the critical choices.

Guest (Female): So what's the plan, Emily? Now comes the real test. We were wondering what you'd think about possibly joining our band. Are you saying you want me to be a spy? Yeah. Crisis moments. We have a show to do. Lori Rydell, you're under arrest. What is it? He's in the bedroom. Hide! Dawn, obviously something very fishy is going on here.

You must do what is right. It's time to get to the truth and heartstrings. Please let me help you. I want us to help each other because I care about you a lot. Like I said, for you, I'd do just about anything. I am very, very proud of you. I love you, brother. I love you too, sis.

Chris: It's all in Album 76, *Keep It Together*, available now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, CD, and download. Find out more at adventuresinodyssey.com.

Go behind the scenes with the official Adventures in Odyssey podcast. Hear how the writers come up with their ideas. Learn about the actors behind your favorite characters. Listen to Q&A and more. Find the official Adventures in Odyssey podcast by visiting adventuresinodyssey.com/podcast.

Want to contact us about the episode you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY. With a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.

Stephen: Well, here we go. Any guesses how he'll be this morning?

Mary: I don't know. He seemed in good spirits when Whit brought him home.

Stephen: Yeah. Funny, isn't it?

Mary: What?

Stephen: Whit telling Danny that verse from Isaiah.

Mary: Why?

Stephen: I was going to give him the same verse when he got home. Leave it to Whit to beat me to the punch.

Mary: Punch.

Stephen: Poor choice of words. I mean, leave it to him to tell Danny before I got a chance to.

Danny: Hi.

Mary: Good morning.

Stephen: Well, look at you. Up, dressed, and ready to go. On time even.

Mary: I'm impressed. How about some cereal and we'll be on our way?

Danny: I'm not going.

Stephen: What do you mean?

Mary: Danny, you have to go to school.

Danny: No, I mean I'm not going with Dad. I don't want him to drive me.

Stephen: You're going to walk?

Danny: Uh-huh.

Mary: Danny, are you sure? I know you memorized that verse and everything, but you don't have to rush if you're still feeling afraid.

Danny: I have my verse and I want to walk to school.

Stephen: I don't mind driving you.

Danny: God is with me, right?

Stephen: Well, yes.

Danny: Then I don't have to be afraid.

Stephen: That's true, but... okay. If you think you're ready to do it, then you should walk.

Mary: I'm very proud of you, Danny.

Stephen: So am I.

Danny: Let me get through the woods first.

Danny: Have no fear, for I am with you. Be not afraid, for—Ah! No, it was just a twig. Have no fear, ice cream thin. No, that's not right. Is anybody there? Be not afraid, for I am victorious with my right hand. All right, I know somebody's there. I can hear you walking.

No, I won't be afraid because God has a victorious right hand. No, I don't remember. Help!

Rusty: Boogabooga! Ah! Look at who it is. Little Danny Schmidt who gets beat up by girls.

Danny: Rusty.

Rusty: What are you doing walking through these woods? Looking for your girlfriend?

Danny: Leave me alone. I have to go to school.

Rusty: What's the rush? Oh, look, your black eye has kind of gone yellowish.

Danny: Leave me alone.

Rusty: Sorry, but you can't go through these woods unless you hand over your lunch money.

Danny: What?

Rusty: You heard me. Give me your lunch money. In fact, you better plan on giving me all your lunch money from now on if you're going to keep walking in these woods. Come on, hand it over.

Danny: No.

Rusty: What?

Danny: No.

Rusty: You're looking for another black eye.

Danny: Oh, yeah? Well, have no fear, for I am with you!

Rusty: What?

Danny: Be not afraid, for I am your God!

Rusty: Keep your voice down, Danny.

Danny: I shall strengthen you and give you help!

Rusty: Have you lost your cork?

Danny: And uphold you with my victorious right hand!

Rusty: Cut it out.

Danny: Have no fear, for I am with you!

Rusty: All right, kid. Keep it down. You trying to get me in trouble?

Danny: Be not afraid, for I am your God!

Rusty: Your parents ought to have you committed, kid.

Danny: I shall strengthen you and give you help and uphold you with my victorious right hand! Isaiah 41:10. Mr. Whitaker!

John Avery Whitaker: Hello, Danny. You and I seem to be on the same trail again.

Danny: Were you there the whole time?

John Avery Whitaker: Oh, for part of it. I heard you shouting out your verse and I thought I'd see what was going on. Guess I didn't need to.

Danny: I think I'm going to be sick.

John Avery Whitaker: Well, that's understandable. You know, it takes a lot of courage to stand up to Rusty.

Danny: Courage? He thinks I'm crazy.

John Avery Whitaker: Well, that might come in handy in the future. Are you all right?

Danny: Yeah.

John Avery Whitaker: Mind if we walk together?

Danny: I'm not afraid.

John Avery Whitaker: I know, but what if I am? I'd feel better if you walked with me.

Danny: In that case, okay. Thanks.

John Avery Whitaker: You're not really afraid, are you?

Danny: Why? What if I was?

John Avery Whitaker: Then I have a really good verse for you to memorize.

Danny: Really now? And what verse is that?

John Avery Whitaker: Isaiah 41:10. I bet you can memorize it before we get to school.

Danny: I'll certainly try.

Chris: Isaiah 41:10 is just one of many verses and examples in the Bible of God's faithfulness when we're afraid. It doesn't mean he'll always make the trouble go away, but he will give us the courage to keep fear from taking over our hearts, if we let him.

Is there anything that you're afraid of? Why don't you write and tell me about it and let me know what Bible verse you use for help? Just send your letter to Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3.

You may also want to ask how you can get your own copy of today's episode. It's called "Afraid, Not!". That address again is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family.

"Afraid, Not!" was written by Paul McCusker and directed by Phil Lollar. Our production engineer was Bob Luttrell, and our executive producer is Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.

Chris: Here's another fun fact from the Odyssey scrapbook. Did you know that several early Adventures in Odyssey episodes were completely rewritten and rerecorded? "Better Late Than Never" is one of those episodes.

John Avery Whitaker: We'll give her a couple more minutes. Connie, what's the hold up? The bus was supposed to leave for the roller rink ages ago.

Connie: We're waiting for Robin.

John Avery Whitaker: Robin? Robin Jacobs?

Connie: Who else?

John Avery Whitaker: Hmm, maybe I should call her house.

Connie: I tried, the line's been busy.

John Avery Whitaker: I'm sure there's a good reason.

Connie: Well, she always has an excuse, but never a good reason.

John Avery Whitaker: Hmm, now, maybe I'll have a word with her.

Connie: Well, that's it. We've waited as long as we can. Everybody on the bus!

Chris: It was originally an episode called "Missed It By That Much." Why was it rerecorded? Because of a character named Officer David Harley.

Officer David Harley: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. You can't have all these kids skating in the back of your store without a license.

John Avery Whitaker: Those kids aren't going to skate in the back of my store. They're taking a bus to the Circle Lanes Roller Rink. They're just waiting here for the rest of their group.

Officer David Harley: Oh, okay. But if they don't get moving fast, you'll need a permit for conspicuous assemblagage—gathering.

John Avery Whitaker: Oh, well, I certainly don't have time to get one of those. Connie, what's the hold up?

Connie: We're waiting for Rachel.

John Avery Whitaker: Rachel Weaver?

Connie: Who else?

John Avery Whitaker: Hmm, well, maybe I should call her at her house.

Connie: I tried, the line's busy. It's just Rachel. She's late for everything. Okay, everybody on the bus!

Officer David Harley: All right, children. We don't want a riot here. Let's have a little orderly dispersal. I want everyone to line up alphabetically according to their height.

Connie: Just get on the bus!

Chris: Officer Harley was an affable, bumbling sort of policeman who many parents thought gave a bad impression of how intelligent our police officers really are. So Officer Harley left Odyssey and his shows were completely redone.

Interesting, huh? Well, just goes to prove what kind of impact your letters can have. You can find out more about getting your own copy of Adventures in Odyssey episodes by writing to Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Or in Canada, write to PO Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3.