Adventures in Odyssey

Focus on the Family: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Odyssey. We're just getting ready for a time of wonder and discovery, so why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting adventure in Odyssey. Everybody's going to want to be pals with the kid in a wheelchair. Stop it. What are your hobbies? What do you like doing? This year, I'm going to try out for the Odyssey soccer team. Odyssey's a great place once you get to know all the people. In Richland, people mind their own business.

Guest (Male): Find out what's going on in other parts of Odyssey in the new Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip. You're serious. Catch up with some long-lost characters with fully illustrated art. What a sight. And original stories. All right, for the good of the theater. They've been here in town all along, but now you can read about what they've been up to. You are not going to believe this. Plus new surprises wait around every turn. It's nice to see you again. Glassman. The Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip. A new weekly release only in the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Guest (Female): Well, I don't know about you, Zachary, but I really like Odyssey. It's got a friendly feel to it. Here's your dinner. What are you doing?

Zachary Sellers: Trying to fix this wheel.

Guest (Female): I know, honey, it's old. We'll get you a new wheelchair soon. Do you need anything else?

Zachary Sellers: No, I'm fine.

Guest (Female): Okay. I'll be in the kitchen.

Zachary Sellers: I dropped my fork. I can't reach it.

Guest (Female): What was that?

Zachary Sellers: Nothing. I wish we could get all these boxes out of here. How am I supposed to move around?

Guest (Female): I'm sorry. Are you okay?

Zachary Sellers: No.

Guest (Female): What's the matter?

Zachary Sellers: Everything. This house, this room, this sorry excuse for a city.

Guest (Female): It'll get better, Zach. When you go to your new school, you'll make friends.

Zachary Sellers: Oh yeah, lots of friends. Everybody's going to want to be pals with the kid in a wheelchair. I'd really be a lot of fun to play with.

Guest (Female): I don't want to hear that.

Zachary Sellers: You never want to hear that.

Guest (Female): Stop it. Don't you sit there and act like this is easy for me.

Zachary Sellers: You're right, Mom. You're the one in the wheelchair.

Guest (Female): You will not talk to me like that. I am doing the best I can and you better start trying to do the same. You will go to school, and you will go to therapy, and you will make the best of this situation. Is that clear?

Zachary Sellers: Yes.

Guest (Female): Good. Now eat your dinner and then get ready for bed. You have to get up early for school tomorrow.

Mr. Winthrop: Okay, quiet down. We've got a lot to do today. Good morning, everyone. Before we start, I'd like to introduce a new student in our class. This is Zachary Sellers. He just moved from—where was it again?

Zachary Sellers: Richland.

Mr. Winthrop: That's right, Richland. We're glad to have you, Zachary.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Mr. Winthrop?

Mr. Winthrop: Yes, Lucy.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: In my class last year, we always had new people tell us about themselves.

Mr. Winthrop: That's a good idea. Would you like to tell us a few things about yourself, Zachary?

Zachary Sellers: What kind of things?

Mr. Winthrop: Well, anything. Here, let me help you up here. You can sit in the front and—

Zachary Sellers: I don't need your help.

Mr. Winthrop: Oh, okay. Well, why don't you come on up and—

Zachary Sellers: I don't really want to.

Mr. Winthrop: We'd like to get to know you. What are your hobbies? What do you like doing?

Zachary Sellers: Okay, fine. Hi, I'm Zachary Sellers. This year I'm going to try out for the Odyssey soccer team. Oh yeah, and I want to break the school high jump record, too. Those are my goals. Need anything else?

Mr. Winthrop: No, Zachary, that's fine. I'm sure you'll all have time to talk to Zachary later. Let's move on.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Zachary?

Zachary Sellers: Yeah.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Hi, I'm Lucy.

Zachary Sellers: Oh yeah, the girl that made me get up in front of the class.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I just wanted to come and say that I'm sorry. I didn't know that it would embarrass you.

Zachary Sellers: Don't worry about it. I'll see you.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I have a friend in Richland. She used to live here. She moved to Richland and she really likes it there.

Zachary Sellers: What a coincidence. I like it there, too. A lot better than I like it here.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Oh, you'll get used to it. Odyssey's a great place once you get to know all the people. And when you start learning your way around, you'll see it's got everything a town like Richland does. We've got a mall, a movie theater, and there's this place called Whit's End that's really—

Zachary Sellers: You know what I really like best about Richland?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What?

Zachary Sellers: In Richland, people mind their own business.

Mr. Burton: Now, let me run down this list and see if I've given you all the right stories for the next issue. Pete, you've got the Student Council campaign. Molly, you've got the track team preview. And Lucy, you're doing a story on the cafeteria controversy. Jack, you're going to cover the—

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Mr. Burton?

Mr. Burton: Yes, Lucy.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: There's no controversy. I just talked to Mrs. Manko. They decided not to put diced tomatoes in the tacos.

Mr. Burton: Oh, okay. Well, here's one other thing you can do. The new student interview. You want it?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Sure.

Mr. Burton: All right, I'll put you down for that.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Okay. Who's the student?

Mr. Burton: Let's see here. Zachary Sellers.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Zachary Sellers?

Mr. Burton: You know him?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Kind of.

Mr. Burton: You look a little pale, Lucy. You want something else?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: No, that's okay. I'll do it. But this may be one short article, Mr. Burton.

Jack Allen: Lucy, you stir that milkshake anymore, you're going to dissolve the spoon.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What? Oh, I guess I'm not thirsty anymore.

Jack Allen: Still nervous about that interview?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I just don't know what I'm going to do. How am I going to get him to tell me anything?

Jack Allen: Maybe he'll warm up to you once you start talking.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I doubt it. You should have seen the way he ignored me in the hallway today. I was just trying to be friendly. I wonder what's bothering him. I mean, other than the obvious thing.

Jack Allen: What's that?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: He's in a wheelchair.

Jack Allen: Really? You know, a boy in a wheelchair came through here a little while ago.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Where'd he go?

Jack Allen: Connie took him upstairs in the elevator because he wanted to look at the train set. I guess he's still up there. Although I can't imagine why. The train's been out of order for a couple of days now.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Well, I guess now's as good a time as ever.

Connie Kendall: Yeah, these trains have been around for a long time. Sorry they're not working. You know, we have other things, too. Do you want to see some of the displays? Hello?

Zachary Sellers: Huh?

Connie Kendall: Is there something wrong?

Zachary Sellers: The coal car on this train.

Connie Kendall: Excuse me?

Zachary Sellers: The coal car is wrong.

Connie Kendall: Wrong?

Zachary Sellers: Yeah, every other car is authentic, but this is definitely wrong.

Connie Kendall: How?

Zachary Sellers: This is a replica of a late 19th-century steam engine train, right?

Connie Kendall: Well, to be honest, I'm not sure.

Zachary Sellers: This type of coal car wasn't used until 1935.

Connie Kendall: How do you know that?

Zachary Sellers: Trains used to be a hobby of mine.

Connie Kendall: Really?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Hi, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Hi, Lucy. Hi, Zachary.

Zachary Sellers: Hi.

Connie Kendall: Look, I have a few things to do downstairs. Are you going to be okay up here?

Zachary Sellers: Yeah, sure.

Connie Kendall: All right. Well, just call if you need me.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Nice train, huh?

Zachary Sellers: The coal car's wrong.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: The what?

Zachary Sellers: Nothing. So why'd you come up here? To play with a broken train?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Well, no. Actually, I came to talk to you.

Zachary Sellers: You want to talk to me?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Yeah, I work for the Odyssey Owl and we have this column where we interview new students. My editor wants me to interview you.

Zachary Sellers: Hasn't anybody in this city ever heard of the right to privacy?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: You don't have to do it. I just thought you might want to.

Zachary Sellers: What kind of questions?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Just normal ones, nothing hard.

Zachary Sellers: Like what?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I guess I would ask you about your interests, your family, your best subjects.

Zachary Sellers: Why would anybody care about that?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: We just figured people might want to get to know you.

Zachary Sellers: Then you're asking the wrong questions. Do you want to write something people will be interested in?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Sure.

Zachary Sellers: Well then, tell them why I'm in a wheelchair. Isn't that what you really want to know?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Only if you want to tell me.

Zachary Sellers: I don't.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Okay, then you don't have to. But if you could just answer a couple other questions. For instance, what is your favorite—

Zachary Sellers: Football accident.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What?

Zachary Sellers: I was playing football in the street and I fell into a pothole. Broke both of my legs.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: So they're just broken?

Zachary Sellers: Yeah, I'll be on crutches in a few months.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Oh, good. I'm glad you told me. Is that enough information for your interview?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Well, no.

Zachary Sellers: Look, I gave you everything that's important. Nobody wants to hear anything else.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: But I can't make a whole article out of—

Zachary Sellers: You're a capable reporter. I'm sure you can make it work.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: If you won't tell me anything else, then I guess I'll have to.

Zachary Sellers: I guess you will.

Jack Allen: All right, that'll be fine. Thanks, Eugene. Connie?

Connie Kendall: Yeah, Jack?

Jack Allen: Eugene has a paper to write, so he won't be in tomorrow.

Connie Kendall: Oh, okay.

Jack Allen: Where's Zachary?

Connie Kendall: Oh, he's upstairs talking to Lucy.

Jack Allen: What do you think of him?

Connie Kendall: Beats me. Not talkative, that's for sure. Except about trains. Seems like he knows a lot about them.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Boy, what a waste of time.

Jack Allen: What happened?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: He wouldn't tell me anything. I don't have nearly enough for an article.

Jack Allen: Did he even talk to you?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: A little bit. I think most of the time he was just trying to irritate me. He did tell me why he's in a wheelchair, though.

Jack Allen: Really?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Football accident. Said he fell into a pothole and broke both of his legs.

Connie Kendall: Wait a minute, Lucy. Did you say he fell into a pothole?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Yeah.

Connie Kendall: Well, that's strange.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What is?

Connie Kendall: He told me he fell over a curb.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Really? Are you sure that's what he said, Connie?

Connie Kendall: Yeah, and he just blurted it out like he thought I was dying to know.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Why would he say that? Is he teasing us?

Jack Allen: I don't know.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I guess if I'm going to do this article about him, I better find out. Zachary?

Zachary Sellers: Boy, you never give up.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Do you mind if I eat lunch with you?

Zachary Sellers: Fine.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I just wanted to ask you something about—

Zachary Sellers: Look, if you'll leave me alone, I will personally go up to your editor and tell him how hard you've worked on this interview and that I've been impossible to work with. That'll save your grade, right?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I'm not interested in my grade.

Zachary Sellers: Then why do you keep on bugging me?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I just want to ask you a question.

Zachary Sellers: Go on. I doubt I'll answer it, but go on.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Why did you lie to me?

Zachary Sellers: Lie to you?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: You didn't get this way from a football accident. How do you figure? You got your stories mixed up. You told Connie and me different things.

Zachary Sellers: Oh. You know, I need to rehearse that.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Why did you lie to me?

Zachary Sellers: It's none of your business.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Why don't you let anyone talk to you? You know people will talk to you if—

Zachary Sellers: I have to go.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Why, Zachary? Why won't you talk to me or anybody?

Zachary Sellers: Okay, if that's how you want it, answer a question for me. Why do you have two last names?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What does that have—

Zachary Sellers: Cunningham-Schultz. That's how you sign your articles in the Owl. I've asked around and no one knows why. All they say is that you don't want to talk about it. Why not?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: That has nothing to do with this.

Zachary Sellers: Oh, it doesn't? So you're allowed to snoop around in my life, but I'm not allowed to know about yours. Okay, now I get it. I'm going to class.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Wait a minute. This article isn't about me, it's about you.

Zachary Sellers: Right, I forgot. Everybody wants to know about the kid in the wheelchair.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: That's not it.

Zachary Sellers: Then what is it, Lucy? Why don't you leave me alone?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Because I have to finish this article.

Zachary Sellers: Yeah, right. Let's just face it, you want the dirt. You want to know exactly what put me in this wheelchair and so does everybody else. Okay, fine. I'll make everybody happy. I had surgery on my legs last month because I tore some ligaments. There. You're not writing this down.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I don't believe you.

Zachary Sellers: Okay, fine. I was skiing and I fell off a mountain.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Is that the truth?

Zachary Sellers: I was bungee jumping and the cable broke.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What really happened?

Zachary Sellers: I was filming a rock video and stepped on some dry ice.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Why won't you tell me the truth?

Zachary Sellers: Because the truth is boring. The truth is stupid. It was a stupid car accident, okay? A stupid car accident on a rainy night with a drunk driver who ran into us and put me in a wheelchair and killed my dad. There, are you satisfied? There's your hot story. I'm sorry. I hope the school enjoys reading about it. Now leave me alone.

Focus on the Family: The stories we hear help shape who we are. The right stories teach us to be brave, to be kind to others, to be Godly people. These are the kinds of stories your children hear with each episode of Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas.

And your kids can hear as many great stories as they want with an Adventures in Odyssey Club membership. When you join the club, you'll get access to over 1,000 faith-building episodes, including episodes you can only hear as a member. You'll get access to devotionals, games, comics, and other fun activities. Keep giving them stories that will live in their hearts forever. Teach them to be wise like Whit, to be compassionate like Connie, to hold on to the biblical values they learn even when you're not there to remind them. Try a membership for 14 days to see if it's right for your family. Go to adventuresinodyssey.com to start your free trial. That's adventuresinodyssey.com.

It's hard to trust a lot of entertainment these days, especially when you want your kids to learn Christian values. Even shows that seem good at first could end up teaching them all the wrong things. But you can always trust Adventures in Odyssey. For over 35 years, Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas have been teaching kids biblical truth through fun, heartwarming stories. Many kids have even come to Christ because of the show.

And with an Adventures in Odyssey Club membership, you can get even more episodes that will keep them on the right path. Play an episode in the car, before bed, or any other time you just need a moment to breathe. You can rest easy knowing every story is teaching them to be more like Christ. To find out how you can join the Adventures in Odyssey Club today, go to adventuresinodyssey.com. That's adventuresinodyssey.com.

What if everything you thought you knew about the epic battle between Dr. Regis Blackgaard and John Avery Whittaker was just the tip of the iceberg? What if there's much more to the story than anyone ever realized? And what if Blackgaard and Whittaker knew it all along? If you love Adventures in Odyssey, you'll love the way the Blackgaard Chronicles book series enhances the story. Find the books at focusonthefamily.com/store. That's focusonthefamily.com/store.

In Adventures in Odyssey's Album 78: At Face Value, no one is who they seem to be. Do you know Chris Metcalf? I don't think so. She's leveled some very serious accusations against you. You're kidding. You're a con artist? I was a different person back then. Oh, what? Yeah. I still want to hear about this kidnapping charge. I only kidnapped my mom. What? It's my job as a teacher to take a middle-of-the-road approach. Well, you know what they say about the middle of the road. No, what? It's a great place to get hit by a car. Keep your ears wide open to Album 78: At Face Value, now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, CD, and download. Find out more at adventuresinodyssey.com.

Want to contact us about the episodes 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.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Oh, Mr. Allen, I really blew it.

Jack Allen: Don't be so hard on yourself, Lucy. You couldn't have known.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: He was so mad. I wouldn't blame him if he never spoke to me again.

Jack Allen: Doesn't sound like he spoke to you much to begin with.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Good point. He never wanted to talk to me.

Jack Allen: I'm not so sure it was you, Lucy. It was probably just that you worked for the Owl. Some people get nervous talking to reporters.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Maybe you're right. I wish I didn't even have to write this article. I might have had a chance to get to know him.

Jack Allen: Why? If it hadn't been for the article, you wouldn't have gotten to know him in the first place.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I'm not so sure that's true.

Jack Allen: Really? Then why did you want to know him?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I wanted to understand. To let him know that I care. I wanted—I guess I wanted to be his friend.

Jack Allen: Does he know that?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: He wouldn't believe me if I told him.

Jack Allen: Well, maybe that's part of the problem. It's been my experience that it's always better to show somebody you care instead of just telling them.

Connie Kendall: Jack?

Jack Allen: Yes, Connie?

Connie Kendall: Has the repairman come in for the microwave yet?

Jack Allen: No, he called. He's coming in this afternoon.

Connie Kendall: Oh, okay. Hi, Lucy.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Hi, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Hey, if you see Zachary anytime soon, tell him the train's fixed.

Jack Allen: It is?

Connie Kendall: Yeah, there's somebody using it right now. Eugene must have fixed it this morning.

Jack Allen: Couldn't have. He's at some symposium at the college.

Connie Kendall: Oh. Well, has Jason been in?

Jack Allen: No.

Connie Kendall: Then who?

Jack Allen: That's strange.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Here goes.

Guest (Female): Yes?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Hello, ma'am. Does Zachary Sellers live here?

Guest (Female): He sure does. And you are?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Lucy. I'm a friend of his from school.

Guest (Female): A friend? Is he here? Oh, sure. Sure. I'm glad you came by, Lucy. Come on in. Zach! Zach, could you come here, please? There's someone here to see you. Zachary didn't tell me he'd made any friends at school. What's going on?

Zachary Sellers: Lucy came by to see you.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Lucy? Hi.

Guest (Female): Why don't you two make yourselves comfortable? I'll be in the kitchen if you need me.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Thank you.

Zachary Sellers: What do you want?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I just wanted to talk to you.

Zachary Sellers: I've got a lot of stuff to do.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Please. It won't take long.

Zachary Sellers: All right, have a seat.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Okay, thanks. I saw your article in the Owl. Not bad.

Zachary Sellers: Thank you.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: You didn't mention the accident. How come?

Zachary Sellers: I thought it was too personal.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Isn't that what you reporters thrive on? Personal stuff?

Zachary Sellers: Not always. You lied, though.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I did?

Zachary Sellers: You said I was nice.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I didn't really say you were nice. I just—

Zachary Sellers: Zachary Sellers is a new student in our school. As I interviewed him, I found that he was nice, intelligent, and a talented person. That's what you said. Intelligent, okay. Talented, maybe. But nice?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Reporters are taught to read between the lines.

Zachary Sellers: What do you mean?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I think that underneath all that toughness, you are a nice person. You've just had some bad things happen to you, and I don't think you're dealing with them very well.

Zachary Sellers: Oh, you don't?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: No. You fixed the train, didn't you?

Zachary Sellers: What are you talking about?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Connie said you knew a lot about trains.

Zachary Sellers: Sure, I know something about trains.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Eugene spent days trying to fix that train and couldn't. Did you fix it?

Zachary Sellers: Yeah, but what does that have to do with—

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: It takes a very talented person to do something Eugene can't do.

Zachary Sellers: So?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: So why are you hiding that from everybody?

Zachary Sellers: Because being able to fix model trains isn't something that comes up very often. It wasn't that big of a repair anyway. We had the same thing happen with one of my old sets.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What else can you do? What are you good at?

Zachary Sellers: You've written the article. Why do you want to know?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I saw your history test laying on Mr. Winthrop's desk. You got a 98.

Zachary Sellers: So?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: So that means you're smart.

Zachary Sellers: What's your point?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: My point is that no one else got a 98.

Zachary Sellers: What are you talking about?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I'm talking about how fortunate you are.

Zachary Sellers: Fortunate? Are you nuts? I'm in a wheelchair.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: But you still have your whole life ahead of you. You have intelligence, skill—

Zachary Sellers: You're crazy.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: You're alive, Zach.

Zachary Sellers: You call this alive? What do you know, anyway? How can you stand there on your two good legs and talk about all I have in this wheelchair?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: At least you're here. I'd give anything if my dad were here in a wheelchair.

Zachary Sellers: What? Why would you want your dad in a wheelchair?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Because at least he'd be alive.

Zachary Sellers: What?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I was nine when he was killed in a car accident. So don't tell me it's easy, Zach. I know what it's like.

Zachary Sellers: I didn't know.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: How could you? All you care about is feeling sorry for yourself. So what was your dad like?

Zachary Sellers: His name was Hal Cunningham. I was Cunningham before my mom got remarried. He was a reporter for the Odyssey Times. I guess that's why I always wanted to be a reporter.

I remember how he used to take me to the newsroom and let me pretend I was beating a deadline. I hammered all kinds of gibberish on his typewriter. What about your dad?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: He was the manager of an accounting office. But he always used to tell me how he really wanted to be a train conductor. I remember we used to go down to the old depot in Richland and he'd go over the trains and schedule.

Jack Allen: Wow, I don't think I've ever seen this train run so well.

Connie Kendall: Zachary did a lot of work on it. He told me he was only up here 15 minutes.

Jack Allen: Really? Well, tell him that anytime he wants to come up here and make adjustments, go right ahead.

Connie Kendall: I will. Oh, that reminds me. I read your article about him, Lucy. It was good.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Thanks, Connie. But I wish I could write it again.

Connie Kendall: Why? I thought it was fine. It was interesting and well-written.

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: But it wasn't about Zachary. Not the real Zachary, at least. I know him so much better now. We talked for three hours yesterday.

Connie Kendall: I don't get it. When he was up here with me, I couldn't get him to talk for anything. How'd you do it?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I guess we just connected.

Connie Kendall: Connected? How?

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: We both needed a friend.

Focus on the Family: I think Zachary learned an important lesson about friendship when he met Lucy. You know, the best way to start a friendship is to be a friend. Lucy did that by realizing that Zachary wasn't just a person with a handicap. He was someone who needed love and encouragement, like all of us.

Well, that's all for today. If you ever want to write to us, our address is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. In Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3. And don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called "The Truth About Zachary."

That address again is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. Adventures in Odyssey is a production of Focus on the Family. "The Truth About Zachary" was written by Marshall Younger and Paul Maum and directed by Marshall Younger. Our production engineer was Bob Latrell, and our executive producer was Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.