Paws & Tales

Stacy Climer: Stacy Climer here from Paws & Tales. I'm here today with author Dave Carl. I understand you have written the very first Paws & Tales book entitled *The Overcomers*.

Dave Carl: That's right, Stacy. And thanks for having me here.

Stacy Climer: So, is *The Overcomers* something very different, or is it a continuation of the big Paws & Tales story?

Dave Carl: Good question, Stacy. It absolutely is a continuation of the big Paws & Tales story. *The Overcomers* is like one giant Paws & Tales episode. The kids are all getting into a whole new adventure, and Minion is at it again up in the heights of Wild Mountain.

And we even meet some new characters for the first time. I'm excited for folks to see what comes next.

Stacy Climer: This is so exciting, Dave. Get your copy today at pawsandtales.org.

Narrator: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales. Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. If you stay on the trails and stick with me, there's adventures to be had there too.

CJ: Come on, CJ, jump!

Stacy: It's too far!

CJ: It wasn't too far for me!

Narrator: Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Howdy, and welcome to Wildwood. There's nothing like the smell of a batch of fresh-baked cookies hot right out of the oven. Stacy's made a whole basket of them to give to the new neighbor in town.

It's something she and the club decided to do for any folks that might move into Wildwood. It's a mighty nice thing to do, no doubt about it. There's Stacy right now, knocking on the door.

Helga Grissel: May I help you?

Stacy: Oh, hi. My name is Stacy and—

Helga Grissel: Are you selling something? I do not purchase anything from—

Stacy: No, ma'am. I heard you just moved into town and—

Helga Grissel: You heard. So, it's begun already. The rumors, the gossip. I haven't been in town two days.

Stacy: I'm sorry. I don't—

Helga Grissel: Let me give you some advice, young lady. Don't believe everything you hear.

Stacy: I don't. I mean, are you Miss Helga Grissel?

Helga Grissel: Of course I am. What do you want?

Stacy: Oh, well, the club, I mean, I, I brought you a basket of cookies to simply welcome you to town.

Helga Grissel: I would ask you to not knock on my door uninvited, especially at this early hour.

Stacy: But Miss Grissel—

Helga Grissel: This conversation has come to an end, young lady. Good day.

Children: (Singing) Mean old Helga came to town. Mean old Helga wears a frown. If you make her mad, then she will lock you up and throw out the key!

Miss Harbor: Excuse me. What are you saying?

Goose: Oh, it's a great new jump rope chant, Miss Harbor. Want to hear it again?

Miss Harbor: I heard it just fine. Where did you learn that?

Goose: Stacy made it up.

Miss Harbor: Stacy?

Stacy: I made it up about this mean old lady that I met last weekend.

Goose: Stacy told us all about it, Miss Harbor. She actually said no to a basket of Stacy's cookies.

CJ: I still don't believe it. I've never met anyone that mean.

Stacy: But it's true. She growled at me and slammed her door right in my face.

Miss Harbor: Okay, I understand that part. But did I hear you say "mean old Helga"?

Goose: That's the lady's name. She's a wolf that just moved into town. My mom told me that there used to be a teacher named Helga Grissel in Wildwood, and she got fired for locking a student in the closet. Hey, do you think that's the same Miss Grissel? Miss Harbor?

Miss Harbor: What? Oh, sorry. All right, time for class. Everyone inside.

Take your seats, class. We have a lot to study today. But first, I have a question. Can anyone tell me why it's not okay to make fun of others?

Goose: Because I'm rubber and you're glue, and whatever I say bounces off of you and sticks to— I mean, whatever sticks on me then bounces over you and I—

Miss Harbor: Thank you, Goose. CJ?

CJ: Because you should treat others the same way you want to be treated.

Miss Harbor: You're right, CJ. It's not okay to hurt others, even behind their back.

Stacy: But what if they're really rude to you, even when you try to be nice?

Miss Harbor: Then you need to show a little grace. We should all be kind and understanding to others, even when they don't deserve it.

Stacy: But what if—

Miss Harbor: I was disappointed in what I heard you all saying in the schoolyard this morning. I hope you'll be careful about how you talk about others in the future.

Now turn in your science books to page 87. Pay close attention as we read, because your homework this weekend will be to write two reports: one on this chapter and another on how it applies to our lives in Wildwood.

That's enough. We have lessons to learn, so now let's get focused. In fact, I'm going to assign you a third essay. By Monday, I want each of you to write 200 words about showing grace to others. Understood?

Children: Yes, Miss Harbor.

Narrator: Well, the class wasn't too happy that day, but they sat quiet and did what Miss Harbor told them. Then they went home for the weekend with more homework than you can shake a ruler at. But when they got back to school on Monday, well, things had changed considerably.

CJ: Did you get all your homework done?

Ned Cleaver: Just barely. The science reports weren't too bad, but the essay on being gracious was kind of hard.

CJ: Really? I thought that one was easy. Better hurry.

Stacy: What is it, Stace? Miss Helga Grissel!

Ned Cleaver: What?

Helga Grissel: What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a substitute teacher before? Now take your seats. Miss Harbor will be taking a much-deserved hiatus.

Goose: A what?

Helga Grissel: A vacation. Until she returns, I will be your teacher.

Ned Cleaver: Oh, no.

Ned the Beaver: Hello, everyone. Ned the Beaver here for Paws & Tales. Oh, we have such good news to tell you.

Tiffany Rockler: What are you doing in here, Ned?

Ned the Beaver: Tiffany, why are you—

Tiffany Rockler: I just heard that Dave Carl has written the first Paws & Tales book. Am I correct?

Ned the Beaver: Yes. I mean, only if you want that to be true. Of course it's true. Why are you here?

Tiffany Rockler: I am here to promote the book, of course.

Ned the Beaver: Really? You want to help?

Tiffany Rockler: Of course. I want everyone to read this book and learn about repentance and about the mean old vulture that tries to get Stacy mad at the club, and how Crocket and Smidge take care of the men they call the Shovels. What could be better than all of that?

Ned the Beaver: Wow, color me surprised. I didn't think you would be interested in this.

Tiffany Rockler: Ned Cleaver, I am nothing if not a team player.

Ned the Beaver: Not exactly how I would describe you.

Tiffany Rockler: So, if all you listeners can hear me now, I want you to all go out and get your own copy of *The Overcomers*, the very first Paws & Tales book ever.

Ned the Beaver: Amazing, Tiffany. I just did not expect—

Tiffany Rockler: I'm buying 100 copies myself, so the very least you could do is get one.

Ned the Beaver: Okay, wait, we try not to be mean to the audience. Thank you for stopping by, Tiffany Rockler, on behalf of the very first Paws & Tales book ever, *The Overcomers*.

Tiffany Rockler: Go right now to pawsandtales.org and buy it. Now.

Ned the Beaver: Kind of mean right there. Let's stop the tape. I don't feel safe. Stop the tape, Joel.

Tiffany Rockler: We will stop the tape when I say stop tape.

Narrator: Now, if those kids thought school was long on Friday with Miss Harbor, then they must have thought Monday with Miss Helga Grissel was an eternity. You never heard so much complaining. After school, they told Papa Chuck about their first day with the new substitute teacher.

Ned Cleaver: She was awful.

CJ: She was hard.

Goose: She was mean, mean, mean!

Papa Chuck: All right, calm down. Mr. Peebles, we're going to need some sodas here.

CJ: We're serious, Papa Chuck. Miss Grissel hates us.

Ned Cleaver: She just kept telling us everything we did was wrong.

Goose: And she's mean, mean, mean!

Papa Chuck: Everyone just take a deep breath. Can we hurry with those sodas? Now, one at a time, tell me all about your day. CJ?

CJ: Well, first of all, she started the morning by making us all stand up straight, and we had to say our names out loud.

Papa Chuck: That doesn't sound so bad.

CJ: You didn't see it.

CJ: My name is CJ Brown.

Helga Grissel: Louder, please. I can't hear you.

CJ: CJ Brown!

Helga Grissel: You don't need to yell.

CJ: Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am.

Helga Grissel: Next.

Goose: Goose, ma'am.

Helga Grissel: What's your full name?

Goose: Pinky Gonzler, ma'am. Your Honor, ma'am. But my friends call me Goose. Well, you can call me whatever you like—well, not because you're not my friend or anything. I mean—

Helga Grissel: Next.

Ned Cleaver: My name is Ned Cleaver.

Helga Grissel: Are you asking me or telling me?

Ned Cleaver: Telling you?

Papa Chuck: Okay, so Miss Grissel may have a different style of teaching. She's just running a tight ship.

Goose: Oh, but you don't know the half of it. It got a lot worse.

Helga Grissel: Miss Gonzler, repeat that sentence with a proper preposition.

Goose: Prepo-what?

Helga Grissel: Preposition. Surely you're familiar with prepositions: in, by, for, with, to.

Goose: Oh, you mean itty-bitty words. I think Miss Harbor said we're going to study grammar and stuff in the fourth grade.

Helga Grissel: It's never too early to learn something as simple as proper grammar, Mr. Brown. If you cannot speak well, people will think you're ignorant. And if people believe you're ignorant, they won't give you the time of day. No one wants to listen to a bunch of yokels from Halfwit Falls.

Goose: This is Wildwood, ma'am.

Helga Grissel: I am well aware that where we are is Wildwood, Miss Gonzler. Starting today, and for the rest of the week, this class is going to study language skills. We'll get you caught up in no time.

Goose: The rest of the week?

Ned Cleaver: See, Papa Chuck? No one could be worse than that.

Goose: Mean, mean, mean!

Papa Chuck: Well, did you learn something today?

Goose: Well, I did make up a new song. I remember things better if I sing them in a song. So I made up a little song about prepositions to the tune of *Pop Goes the Weasel*.

Around, across, among, to, against, along, beyond, through, before, behind, out, under, without, after, during, for, about. These are prepositions! You'll have them before—

Papa Chuck: Okay, I got it. I got it. Okay, Goose. I got it.

Ned Cleaver: I can't wait till we get Miss Harbor back, and soon.

Papa Chuck: I think you all need to be patient. Miss Grissel may be a bit tougher than Miss Harbor, but give her a chance. She can't be all that bad.

Stacy: Oh, yes, she can.

Papa Chuck: Stacy, I was wondering where you were. What do you think of the new substitute?

Stacy: Miss Grissel hates me.

Papa Chuck: Oh, I'm sure she doesn't actually hate you.

Stacy: Yes, she does. She made me stay after school for detention. In fact, I have to go to detention all week. It's horrible.

Papa Chuck: Mr. Peebles, can we get another one of those sodas down here? Now, calm down and tell me what happened.

Stacy: Well, in the middle of our history lesson—

Helga Grissel: Let's review the chapter. And I hope you've been listening. I would hate to tell your parents you haven't paid attention in class. Question one: Who was the first mayor of Wildwood? CJ Brown?

CJ: Jeremiah Hickory?

Helga Grissel: Correct, Mr. Brown. Question two: What was the first building built in Wildwood? Mr. Cleaver?

Ned Cleaver: Oh, I know that. It was a jailhouse.

Helga Grissel: Good. I'm relieved to see at least two students have been listening. Question three: Miss Gonzler, who was in the original group to settle homesteads in Wildwood? Stacy Climer, is there something you'd like to share with the class?

Stacy: No, ma'am.

Helga Grissel: You passed a note to Miss Gonzler while I was asking her a question. Please stand and read the contents of your little missive with the rest of the class.

Stacy: I'd rather not.

Helga Grissel: You will stand up this instant, and you will tell us exactly what you wrote to your classmate.

Stacy: Please, Miss Grissel, I can't.

Helga Grissel: Then Miss Gonzler will stand up and read the note for you.

Stacy: No, ma'am, that's not necessary. I was just telling Goose that—

Helga Grissel: Miss Gonzler, read the note aloud to the class. Chin up. Speak clearly.

Goose: Goose, I think—oh, I love the way she makes a little smiley face over her I's.

Helga Grissel: Read the rest of the note.

Goose: Oh, yeah. Goose, I think that you better be good, or she might—oh, oh, this is—

Helga Grissel: Miss Gonzler?

Goose: Or she might lock you in the closet.

Helga Grissel: That was uncalled for. Miss Climer, you will spend the rest of the week in detention after school at your desk. Understood?

Stacy: Stacy, that's not like you.

Stacy: Well, if she hadn't been so awful about it. I didn't mean for her to see the note.

Papa Chuck: You wrote something very hurtful.

Stacy: But it's true. I heard she was fired because she locked a student in the broom closet.

Papa Chuck: Hold on, Stacy. You heard about something that happened a long time ago. I've heard that story myself, but I wasn't there. I don't know what happened, and neither do you. But I do know this: Miss Grissel is here because Miss Harbor needs a break.

Ned Cleaver: She needs a break? We're the ones that need a break.

Papa Chuck: Miss Harbor thinks Miss Grissel is a fine teacher, and she's the one who asked Miss Grissel to fill in for her.

Stacy: Miss Harbor asked her?

Papa Chuck: Yes. Miss Harbor has always had a special place in her heart for Miss Grissel. Miss Harbor is the only friend Miss Grissel has.

Stacy: Miss Harbor is friends with her?

Papa Chuck: Everyone needs a break once in a while. Miss Harbor has worked hard this year, and someone thought she deserved a break.

Stacy: She deserves a break? She's the one that needs to give us a break.

I think you all need to be doing some serious praying about how God wants you to behave towards Miss Grissel.

Stacy: I know, Papa Chuck. But she thinks I'm a good-for-nothing hooligan. She hates me. I don't think I can face her again.

Papa Chuck: That's why you need to be praying about this tonight. And tomorrow, well, tomorrow you'll need to go to school and take whatever comes your way.

Stacy: I knew you were going to say that.

Priscilla: Hi, I'm Priscilla from California. Don't go away because there's more Paws & Tales coming right up.

Ned the Beaver: Hello, Paws & Tales listeners. Can you all just stop everything? Thank you so much.

Tiffany Rockler: I am Tiffany Rockler, the richest girl in Wildwood, and I am here to tell you about the very first Paws & Tales book ever. It is like an expanded version of a regular episode. It is full of adventure. Ned, you were supposed to be the great sound effects guy. Give me adventure sounds, please.

Ned the Beaver: We haven't had time—

Tiffany Rockler: Do it.

Ned the Beaver: Okay, adventure sounds on three. One, two—

Tiffany Rockler: We will fix it in post. The book is also jam-packed with Paws & Tales fun. Do something fun.

Ned the Beaver: Okay, let's all laugh on three. One, two—

Tiffany Rockler: I am doing all the work here. You, read this for me.

Ned the Beaver: Sure. Just log on to pawsandtales.org and get your own copy of *The Overcomers* by David Carl.

Tiffany Rockler: Lovely. That'll do it.

Ned the Beaver: Are you joking? That was not lovely, and we will do it again and again if we need to until it is perfect.

Tiffany Rockler: And we're out.

Narrator: Well, I wish I could tell you that things got easier for Stacy and her classmates, but by the time that week was over, those kids were just plain exhausted. Saturday morning came and Stacy headed off to pay a visit to Mrs. Shuffleby.

On the way, she passed the school and couldn't help but get to thinking about mean Miss Grissel and what she might be planning for them all on Monday. Just as Stacy rounded the corner, she noticed the door was wide open and a familiar face was inside.

Stacy: Miss Harbor! Am I glad to see you!

Miss Harbor: How nice, Stacy. How was last week?

Stacy: I can't wait to have you back. Miss Grissel has been an awful substitute. She was mean and cruel and—

Miss Harbor: Now wait a minute, Stacy. Why don't you tell me what happened?

Stacy: She gave me a whole week's detention for some dumb little thing.

Miss Harbor: What dumb little thing?

Stacy: I kind of wrote something about Miss Grissel locking Goose in the closet.

Miss Harbor: Oh, Stacy, you didn't.

Stacy: I know it wasn't nice, but—

Miss Harbor: Stacy, that was a terrible thing to write.

Stacy: I know. I know. But she was treating us like we were monsters.

Miss Harbor: Stacy, you don't understand. Miss Grissel used to be my teacher.

Stacy: Really?

Miss Harbor: I was her best student. I never got into any trouble, either. But then one day—

Helga Grissel: Miss Harbor?

Miss Harbor: Yes, Miss Grissel?

Helga Grissel: Where are the tests that were on my desk?

Miss Harbor: I haven't seen them, ma'am.

Helga Grissel: Is that so? You're the only student who's been in here the last half hour.

Miss Harbor: Yes, ma'am. I've been finishing my homework early so I can go to my game.

Helga Grissel: I saw those tests on my desk before I left this room.

Miss Harbor: I'm sorry, but I don't know where they are, ma'am.

Helga Grissel: If you're not going to tell me the truth, then I'll have to give you a detention.

Miss Harbor: But I am telling the truth.

Helga Grissel: I'm disappointed in you, Miss Harbor. I expected more honesty from a student like you. Miss Grissel, please! I'll be late for my game. My team needs me. It's the championship.

Helga Grissel: What's important, Miss Harbor, is telling the truth. Now you will put yourself to good use by cleaning the windows and sweeping the floors. I'll be right out, Miss Shuffleby. The brushes and broom are in the closet. If you finish in time, you can go to your game.

Stacy: So she did lock you in the broom closet. What a mean, ornery—

Miss Harbor: No, Stacy, that's not what happened.

Stacy: But if she didn't do it, then—

Miss Harbor: It wasn't until a few weeks later that I discovered quite by accident something very interesting about this classroom. Here, let me show you. Why don't you go over to the broom closet and open the door? Okay?

I remember clearly on that afternoon, I heard Miss Grissel walking outside to speak with Mrs. Shuffleby. Now watch what happens when I quickly open the school doors. The door closed itself! Miss Grissel and Mrs. Shuffleby must have chatted for quite a while.

Afterward, when Miss Grissel looked back in the classroom and didn't see me anywhere, she naturally assumed that I had finished sweeping and gone home. By the time someone heard me crying in there, it was too late. The game was over. Our team had lost.

I was angry. My team was upset. The whole school was mad. Before I could set the story straight, everyone in town believed the rumor that Miss Grissel had locked me in the closet. She was gone before I realized what had happened.

Stacy: So Miss Grissel got fired because everyone thought she locked you in the closet?

Miss Harbor: It was just the straw that broke the camel's back. She had been pretty mean to everyone in town. Plenty of parents had complained about her to the school board. They were just looking for one good reason to let her go.

Stacy: But still, what she did wasn't fair. Didn't she kind of deserve it anyway?

Miss Harbor: Even though she was always tough on her class—maybe even too hard sometimes—she really cared that we were learning. It wasn't until I was older that I realized it.

Stacy: I don't get it. How could you like a person who's not very likable?

Miss Harbor: Stacy, that is why I gave the class that assignment on grace. Miss Grissel needs God's grace just as much as you and me.

Stacy: But Miss Grissel didn't say a kind word all week.

Miss Harbor: That's the wonderful thing about grace, Stacy. God shows us favor even though we don't deserve it. Just think about how unkind we are to God when we disobey Him, and yet He still loves us and forgives us.

And Miss Grissel needs to receive grace as much as you and I need to give it.

Stacy: I don't think she's had much practice receiving grace.

Miss Harbor: You may be right. When I found Miss Grissel was back in town after all these years, I needed to do for her what God would do for me.

Stacy: What do you mean?

Miss Harbor: Well, I asked the school board to let Miss Grissel substitute while I took a few days off.

Stacy: Oh, you gave grace to Miss Grissel.

Miss Harbor: Exactly. Perhaps you should think about doing the same thing before it's too late. I know that showing grace can be hard, Stacy, but receiving it is just as hard, sometimes even more so. But we all get better as we go.

Stacy: But you are coming back, aren't you?

Miss Harbor: Of course. But I think I need to give Miss Grissel another day or two, don't you?

Narrator: Well, Stacy did a lot of thinking and praying over the weekend. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't bring herself to like Miss Grissel. But she knew Miss Harbor was right. So first thing Monday morning, she headed off to school a little bit early.

Stacy: Excuse me, Miss Grissel.

Helga Grissel: You're here early. I hope you don't plan on earning yourself more detentions this week.

Stacy: No, ma'am. I just—well, see, I—

Helga Grissel: Stop staring at the floor, Miss Climer. Stand up straight, look me in the face, and state your business.

Stacy: I just wanted to tell you that I talked to Miss Harbor, and well, she told me that you used to be a really good teacher.

Helga Grissel: Used to be?

Stacy: That's not what I meant.

Helga Grissel: I've been a teacher for many years, young lady. Some of my students have gone on to become doctors and engineers.

Stacy: What I'm trying to say is, I wrote a card to thank you for teaching our class, and well, teaching me so much in the last week.

Helga Grissel: Dear Miss Grissel, thank you for teaching our class. I've learned a lot from you this week. Your student, Stacy Climer.

Stacy: So, anyways, I'm sorry for disturbing you so early in the morning. If it's all right, I'll just sit at my desk and read till class starts.

Helga Grissel: Miss Climer?

Stacy: Yes, ma'am?

Helga Grissel: You may think this is a very nice thing to do for a strict old lady.

Stacy: No, it's just—

Helga Grissel: I know I'm not the friendliest old wolf in the world. I have my ways and others have theirs.

Stacy: Yes, ma'am. For your information, this is not the nicest thing a student has done for me.

Stacy: Oh.

Helga Grissel: It's only the second nicest thing.

Stacy: Oh. May I ask what was the first?

Helga Grissel: When Miss Harbor gave me a second chance. Lord knows I didn't deserve it.

Stacy: Miss Harbor's very nice.

Helga Grissel: Yes, she is. And this is a very kind thing you have done for me. Thank you, Miss Climer.

Anyway, if that basket of cookies is still available, I wouldn't be opposed to it, so long as they're not dry and crumbly. There's nothing worse than giving someone a basket of cookies that are all dry and crumbly. Do you understand?

Stacy: Yes, ma'am.

Narrator: Yep, God's grace can be a wonderful thing. None of us deserves it, but the Lord pours it on us anyway. Best of all, it's something we can pass along to others. It's sort of like showing folks just a little bit of what God is like.

Stacy: (Singing) I'm just a girl, an innocent girl. I play by the rules at home and at school. But this teacher I got is from the school of hard knocks. Yeah, she's got a mean streak, now my whole future looks bleak. Oh tell me, how do I get through? Please tell me, what would Jesus do?

Chorus: We can tell you! There's just one answer! Yeah, we know! You gotta give a little grace, grace. Put a smile on your face, face. Take the wrongs and erase, erase. And when you think you're gonna blow your top, stop and give a little grace, grace.

It's a wonderful place, place, when a heart can embrace, embrace those who haven't been so easy to love. With help from above, you give grace. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Stacy: Wait! I tried sugar and spice, I've been so textbook nice, but things aren't going well 'cause she's ringing my bell. How can I be a peach to a sour grapes teach when it isn't deserved? That's one big learning curve. This doesn't seem like simple ABCs.

Chorus: But it's really very elementary! Yeah, it's simple! You gotta give a little grace, grace. Put a smile on your face, face. Take the wrongs and erase, erase. And when you think you're gonna blow your top, stop and give a little grace, grace 'cause we all make mistakes, mistakes.

So just put on your brakes, brakes, and think of what the Lord has done for you, then let it shine through and give grace. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Stacy: Well now I think about it, I must agree. That's exactly what the Lord has done for me. So if I give love and get back a frown, I'll keep giving till a frown turns upside down!

Chorus: I'm gonna give a little grace, grace. Put a smile on my face, face.

Goose: That's it, Stace!

Chorus: Take the wrongs and erase, erase.

Goose: Yeah, Stace!

Chorus: And when you think you're gonna blow your top, stop and give a little grace, grace. It's a wonderful place, place, when a heart can embrace, embrace those who haven't been so easy to love. With help from above, you give grace. Yeah, you give grace, grace. Give a little grace, grace. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Narrator: To order a copy of today's program, *Miss Helga Grissel*, just log on to pawsandtales.org. *Miss Helga Grissel* was written by Jeff White and directed by Eric Beazel. Our script supervisor was Phil Lollar.

The song *A Little Grace* was written by Sandy Howell and Shelley Spady. Music was by John Campbell and our sound designer was Jerry Swafford. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.