Your Story Hour

Aunt Nikki: Welcome to Your Story Hour. I'm Aunt Nikki.

Uncle Jon: And I'm Uncle Jon, and we're here to bring you today's inspiring story. Welcome boys, girls, moms, dads, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas.

Aunt Nikki: Uncle Jon, sounds like you're welcoming everyone, young, old, and in between.

Uncle Jon: I am, Aunt Nikki, because the story we're sharing today is one I'm pretty sure everyone can relate to.

Aunt Nikki: How so, Uncle Jon?

Uncle Jon: Well, Aunt Nikki, have you ever done something that you really regretted, but then later told somebody else about what had happened so that they could learn from your mistake and make a better choice?

Aunt Nikki: Well, yes, come to think of it, I have. Does that happen in today's story?

Uncle Jon: That's right, you've guessed it.

Aunt Nikki: Then you're right, everyone can relate because we've all made mistakes and hopefully learned from the mistakes of others.

Uncle Jon: Yes, and it's encouraging to know that even when we make mistakes, God can work all things together for good and use our experience to help other people.

Aunt Nikki: So what's the mistake that happens in today's story?

Uncle Jon: Well, I don't want to give everything away, so let's just go ahead and listen to our story that's called, "The Easy Way Out."

The weather is just starting to get cooler in a small town in the United States. Trees are changing color and kids are back in school. Something Brad Fuller isn't too happy about. He's in his first year of high school and finding that classes are quite a bit more challenging than they were in middle school.

Mr. Torres: So as you can see, class, during the Revolutionary War, George Washington was trying to organize a ragtag group of farmers and shopkeepers into soldiers for his army. And okay, guys, for Monday, read the next chapter and answer the questions on page 58. And don't forget that your major essay is due next Thursday. So I know what you'll be doing this weekend.

Missy: Hey Brad, wait for me.

Brad: Hey Missy, what's up?

Missy: Have you started your essay yet?

Brad: Well, that depends. How do you define started?

Missy: I don't know, maybe taking the quill pen and ink out of storage.

Brad: Oh, I've gotten way past the quill and ink method.

Missy: Oh, you dusted off your mom's old typewriter?

Brad: Nope, but I've made it to the 21st century and upgraded to Word Wizard.

Missy: You mean that old computer program that came out when we were in kindergarten and hasn't been updated since? My, my, aren't we advanced?

Brad: Hey, now. Brad Fuller is a man of the people. Can't get too futuristic.

Missy: So all of this just to say that you haven't written a single word on your essay, right? Have you even come up with a topic yet?

Brad: Well, I'm mentally processing the whole thing.

Missy: Right, whatever you have to tell yourself, Fuller. Just make sure you actually do the assignment this time.

Brad: Yeah, thanks Mom. I'll remember.

Missy: Hey, it's your grade.

Brad: I know. So why'd you want to know about my essay?

Missy: Well, I was going to invite you to hang out with a bunch of us this weekend, but it sounds like you've already got yourself a date with Miss American History.

Brad: Hardy har har. Come on, I can hang out with you guys this weekend. The essay isn't due till Thursday. I'll have plenty of time to write it before then.

Missy: Uh-huh.

Brad: You, Miss Lewis, underestimate the astonishing academic skill of one Brad Fuller, boy genius.

Missy: Doesn't ring any bells. I think I only know a Brad Fuller, boy procrastinator.

Brad: Whatever. So when are you guys hanging out?

Missy: We're meeting at Greg's place for lunch on Sunday and we'll see how things go from there.

Brad: Cool.

Missy: Seriously though, Brad, don't come if you need the time to do schoolwork.

Brad: Don't worry about me. I'll be there.

Uncle Jon: True to his word, Brad showed up on Sunday. Having fun with his friends made him forget all about his schoolwork. The weekend flew by in the blink of an eye and before Brad knew what had happened, it was time for American History class the next Thursday.

Missy: Hey Brad, welcome to D-Day.

Brad: D-Day?

Missy: Yeah, due date day for our major essay.

Brad: Yeah, about that.

Missy: Oh no, don't tell me you never wrote it.

Brad: Well...

Missy: Come on, Brad. This essay and the final test will determine our grade for the whole class.

Brad: I know. I got busy.

Missy: You mean busy wasting time with us last weekend, Brad.

Brad: It's okay, it's okay. Maybe Mr. Torres forgot about the essay. You know how teachers are always super busy grading and doing teacher stuff.

Mr. Torres: All right class, settle down, settle down. History awaits and it's not getting any younger. Well, I see I have a tall stack of essays up here on my desk. Excellent. And you know that as your all-knowing teacher, I'll know who's put a decent effort into their paper.

Guest (Male): AKA who's passing your class.

Mr. Torres: Oh, somebody was listening. All right, so if your paper isn't already part of this leaning tower of essays, remember to turn it in by the end of class today. Otherwise, your final grade will suffer the consequences.

Brad: Oh man, I still haven't written my essay. And if I fail this class, oh, my parents will freak out. What am I going to do?

Guest (Male): Mr. Torres might go easy on you if he believes you have extenuating circumstances. He doesn't need to know that you forgot about the report. Just tell him something disaster occurred that kept you from writing it.

Guest (Male): You know honesty is the best policy. Just tell the truth, Brad.

Guest (Male): But the honest truth is that you don't want to get a bad grade on such an important paper, do you, Brad?

Guest (Male): Actually, the honest truth is that you've had plenty of time. You could have written your paper instead of hanging out with your friends last weekend.

Guest (Male): Don't listen to that nonsense, Brad. You've still got a chance to save your grade. You don't need to tell a big lie, just a little one. And little lies don't hurt anyone.

Uncle Jon: During the entire class period, Brad worried about how to handle his unwritten essay. Should he tell a lie to get Mr. Torres to go easy on him, or admit the truth and get a bad grade? Finally, the class bell rang.

Brad: Hey Missy, can you help me with our algebra homework? I'm having trouble with problem number 12.

Missy: Yeah, I guess so. It was pretty simple, you just...

Mr. Torres: Brad, can you stay and talk with me for a bit?

Brad: Oh, okay.

Missy: Yikes. I'll catch you later, Brad.

Brad: Okay. Come in, Mr. Torres?

Mr. Torres: Have a seat, Brad. I need to talk with you about your paper.

Brad: What about my paper, Mr. Torres?

Mr. Torres: Well, it appears that it doesn't exist. I noticed that your paper was missing from my leaning tower of essays. I'm sure you're aware that this is an important assignment, a major part of your grade for my class.

Brad: Yes, sir.

Mr. Torres: And this isn't the first time you've turned in an assignment late, Brad. Surely by now you know that completing assignments on time is definitely required. What do you have to say for yourself?

Brad: Oh man, what am I going to do? If I tell the truth, I'll get a bad grade and fail the class, and then I'll be in big trouble.

Guest (Male): You should admit the truth, Brad.

Guest (Male): I know you don't want to fail your history class, but is it really wrong to take advantage of an opportunity that just falls into your lap? Mr. Torres is asking you to give him an excuse. Just tell him that you're having a rough time at home. He'll never know the difference.

Mr. Torres: Is everything all right, Brad?

Brad: Well, no, Mr. Torres. I guess things haven't been so great at home.

Mr. Torres: Really? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Brad. What's going on?

Brad: It's my mom. She's been pretty sick lately.

Mr. Torres: I see. You know, Brad, I ran into your mom at Save King last night and she seemed to be doing just fine.

Brad: Oh, well, she has good days and bad days. You know how it is.

Mr. Torres: Yes, I suppose I do.

Brad: Well, is that all, Mr. Torres?

Mr. Torres: Actually, Brad, I'd like to tell you a story about something that happened to me when I was just a few years younger than you all are. It happened like this.

Robert: Mom, I'm going outside to play with Sean.

Guest (Female): Okay, Robert.

Robert: Hiya, Sean.

Sean: Hey, Robert. What do you want to do today?

Robert: I don't know. It's pretty hot. Feels like we're inside a frying pan.

Sean: Yeah. I know, let's go to the backyard.

Robert: What for?

Sean: My older brother's been working on his bike. Maybe there's some old parts lying around we can use to build something.

Robert: But won't Dale get mad if you mess around with his stuff?

Sean: Nah, we'll be fine as long as we don't break anything.

Robert: Okay. Hey, is that your dad's new car?

Sean: Yep, he's pretty proud of it. It's the first brand new car we ever had.

Robert: Wow, and it's a hatchback too. Look at the way that back window slopes up.

Sean: It sure is a beauty. I know. Welcome to the backyard. Okay, here's where Dale was working on his bike.

Robert: I can tell. There are tools and parts all over.

Sean: Yeah. Do you see anything we could play around with?

Robert: I don't know, let's see. Here's a bike chain.

Sean: Sweet, save that on the side.

Robert: Okay. Hey, what about this?

Sean: Whoa, a rim and tire. An entire bike wheel, it's perfect.

Robert: It is?

Sean: Yeah, we can make ramps and stuff for it and launch the wheel through the air like motorcycle stuntmen.

Robert: Cool.

Mr. Torres: Sean and I spent the next couple of hours picking up various odds and ends around the backyard and making inventive ramps for that bicycle wheel.

Brad: Were any of them any good?

Mr. Torres: Oh yes, some of the ramps were engineering masterpieces. Or at least we thought they were, anyway. We kept on trying to one-up each other, to see who could make the biggest and the best ramp so that when we threw the tire up the ramp, it would send the bike tire flying.

Sean: That was sweet. Did you see how fast the wheel went up that ramp? I think it was the best jump yet.

Robert: Hold on, there's a paint bucket I want to add to our ramp underneath that board.

Sean: It's going to make the ramp even bigger.

Robert: That's the idea. This is going to be the best jump ever.

Aunt Nikki: I like Robert and Sean's confidence and enthusiasm, Uncle Jon.

Uncle Jon: Me too, Aunt Nikki. And I totally resonate with their unquenchable thirst for the best.

Aunt Nikki: Oh?

Uncle Jon: Yes, you see, I'm always looking for the best riddles to stump you with.

Aunt Nikki: I get what you're saying, Uncle Jon. And I take it you have a riddle for me right now?

Uncle Jon: As a matter of fact, I do. This one was mailed in by Laurel from right here in Michigan. Here it goes. I run all day, but never walk. Often murmur, never talk. Have a bed, but never sleep. Have a mouth, but never eat. What am I?

Aunt Nikki: Something that runs and murmurs and has a bed and a mouth? Sounds like a river to me, Uncle Jon.

Uncle Jon: Oh, you got it in one, Aunt Nikki. Good for you.

Aunt Nikki: Why thank you. Now I have one for you, Uncle Jon, sent in by a young listener named Edmar.

Uncle Jon: Excellent.

Aunt Nikki: I shave every day, but my beard stays the same. Who am I?

Uncle Jon: Someone who shaves every day but his own hair doesn't change? Well, that would work if you're shaving but not your own hair. Does the answer to this riddle happen to be a barber?

Aunt Nikki: Right you are, Uncle Jon.

Uncle Jon: We're on a roll. Here's another one for you, Aunt Nikki. When are cooks mean?

Aunt Nikki: When are cooks mean? I don't know, Uncle Jon. I do most of the cooking around here and I'm rather nice if I say so myself.

Uncle Jon: I think you're nice too, Aunt Nikki. But you haven't answered the question.

Aunt Nikki: You'll have to tell me, when are cooks mean?

Uncle Jon: Of course it's when they're beating eggs and whipping cream.

Aunt Nikki: Oh, of course.

Uncle Jon: I do love a good riddle or joke. It's one of the things I look forward to in Clubhouse Magazine every month.

Aunt Nikki: Along with the interesting stories, fun puzzles, Bible comics, and the occasional poem or recipe.

Uncle Jon: You're so right, Aunt Nikki. I love it all.

Aunt Nikki: Girls and boys, Clubhouse Magazine is made just for you. There's a new issue every month. You can find it on our website. Just go to YourStoryHour.org and click on Kids' Corner in the menu.

Kids' Corner has all kinds of fun things for you to do. There's Clubhouse Magazine...

Uncle Jon: And Adventures in the Holy Bible, a fun series of Bible lessons.

Aunt Nikki: There's a coloring booklet that goes along with our story, "The Raven and the Ring."

Uncle Jon: And so much more.

Aunt Nikki: We love you lots and lots and hope that you have lots of fun with the activities in Kids' Corner.

Uncle Jon: Now, before we run away with ourselves, we should get back to Sean and Robert.

Aunt Nikki: They had just added a paint bucket underneath the board in their ramp, trying to make the best tire jump ever.

Uncle Jon: Right, but let's find out whether they succeed in our story today called, "The Easy Way Out."

Mr. Torres: Sean put the old paint bucket underneath the board we were using as a ramp for launching our bike tire into the air. The bucket made our ramp even higher than ever.

Sean: It'll never make it.

Robert: What do you mean?

Sean: It's too high. The wheel won't make it to the top of the ramp.

Robert: Maybe an amateur wouldn't be able to get it up there, but I'm a professional. This is going to be the best stunt since 1971 when Evel Knievel set the record by jumping over 19 cars with a motorcycle. Sean, nothing will ever be as epic as Evel Knievel.

Sean: You're right, but this is going to come pretty close.

Robert: We'll see. All right, time for the moment of truth. Sean Tanner steps up to the starting line. Come on Robert, be my announcer.

Sean: It's a beautiful day here in sunny Florida. Robert.

Robert: Okay, okay. Sean Tanner is about to make throw that could change his career forever.

Sean: That's more like it.

Robert: He's backing up and he's off, running in good form. He reaches the launch line and he throws the tire. It hits the ramp at a perfect angle and it's flying. Look at it go. Wow, it went at least 100 feet.

Sean: Yeah, and the crowd goes wild. Mr. Tanner, how do you feel after that awesome throw that has changed your tire throwing career?

Robert: Well, you know Robert, I didn't know what was going to happen, but I ended up with a perfect throw.

Sean: And how does that perfect throw make you feel?

Robert: Amazing.

Sean: Is there anything else you want to say?

Robert: Thank you to my mom. She's always been there for me. Thank you to Dale who left his old bike tire lying around the yard. And thank you to Robert who had this genius idea in the first place. God bless America! I think I just earned the award for the coolest ramp jump ever.

Sean: Hey, not so fast. I think I can beat it.

Robert: Nope, never. That was the best ramp jump in history.

Sean: Only until I beat it. I have the perfect ramp idea. Go fetch the wheel and then meet me in the driveway.

Mr. Torres: While Sean ran off to get the bike rim, I sized up what would be the perfect ramp: the sloping hatchback window of my dad's brand new car.

Brad: Uh-oh.

Mr. Torres: I was sure the car window would make the best ramp of all time and something Sean could never beat.

Brad: No way, Mr. Torres, that's a crazy idea. So how did you turn the window into a ramp?

Mr. Torres: Well, I figured that if I could throw the bike rim and get it to hit the car at the base of the window, the tire would roll right on up the window, glance off the top, and be launched into the air.

Brad: And how did that work out for you?

Mr. Torres: Well, when Sean returned with the wheel...

Sean: Okay, here it is. What's this great new ramp you've got planned?

Robert: Oh, it's going to be big. You see my dad's car?

Sean: That's just asking for trouble.

Robert: Hey man, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Or as you might say, all the awesome stuff happens because of trying stupid stuff.

Sean: No, no, no, not stupid, stupendous! I don't know man, your dad will totally freak if anything happens to his car.

Robert: Well, nothing's going to happen except that it's going to be the perfect ramp and I'll become famous.

Sean: If you say so.

Robert: I do. Now it's time for you to announce my award-winning jump.

Sean: Spectators have lined up to see Robert Torres attempt the greatest tire jump of all time.

Robert: You know it.

Sean: Against conventional wisdom, he's going to use the window of his dad's new hatchback car as a ramp. You know, Sean, some naysayers think the jump can't be done.

Robert: But that remains to be seen. Watch and be amazed.

Sean: Robert's running toward the launch line and he's throwing the rim. It's airborne.

Robert: No! A tragic accident on what could have been the most incredible day of our lives. Now we're doomed. Oh man, oh man, oh man. What am I going to do? My dad's going to be so mad.

Sean: I know man. Well, Robert, it's been nice knowing you, but I'm probably going to be grounded until I'm 35. An old man.

Robert: Yeah, your dad is going to freak out for sure. But hey, my dad won't be as mad as your dad.

Sean: So?

Robert: That's your dad. I didn't completely destroy his new car. I destroyed my dad's. No, you don't get what I'm saying.

Sean: What are you saying?

Robert: Just tell your dad that I broke the car window.

Sean: No, I couldn't let you do that for me. It's too much. Besides, it'd be lying.

Robert: Sean, if we ever want to see each other again, this is the only way. If your dad finds out that you ruined his new car, I won't see you till you're 35 and you come staggering out of the house all old and wrinkly. I might not even recognize you.

Sean: Well, if you're that old, I will be too. What if I don't recognize you either?

Robert: Hold on, let me finish what I was saying. I could have broken that window just as easily as you did. The only reason I didn't was because you thought of the idea first. That barely makes it a lie. It's just what could have happened.

Sean: But it didn't.

Robert: Well, nobody has to know that except you and me.

Sean: I don't know, you'd really take the blame for me like that?

Robert: Yeah. I mean, what are friends for?

Sean: You, sir, are the best of friends. You deserve a Purple Heart or something.

Robert: It's an honor. Anything to keep you from never seeing the light of day again.

Sean: Thanks man.

Robert: Well, I'd better get home before your dad gets here.

Mr. Torres: Since school was almost out for the summer, I went up to my room and started furiously working on my homework. I figured that my dad might be so impressed with my hardworking character that he wouldn't even notice the car. Right. As you've probably surmised, my doing homework wasn't quite that impressive. And it wasn't long before I heard my dad's heavy footsteps coming down the hall.

Guest (Male): Robert!

Robert: Yes, Dad?

Guest (Male): What happened to my new car? When I left this morning, it was good as new, and now the back window is smashed into a million pieces. Did you have something to do with it?

Robert: Yeah, well, I guess sort of, but not really.

Guest (Male): Well, which is it? Did you or did you not break my new car's window?

Robert: I didn't. You see, me and Sean were playing and we needed a ramp for our tire stunt.

Guest (Male): A ramp?

Robert: Yeah, you know, for making the tire do jumps.

Guest (Male): And you thought using the window of my new car was a good idea?

Robert: Uh-huh.

Guest (Male): Robert, don't you have any respect for other people's property?

Robert: Sean did it.

Guest (Male): Sean? Sean Tanner broke my car window?

Robert: Yeah, he did.

Mr. Torres: My dad stormed out of my bedroom and I ran to the window to see what would happen. I watched as he stalked angrily across the street and pounded on the Tanners' front door. Mr. Tanner answered. After my dad said his piece, Mr. Tanner shook his head and called back into the house.

I watched as Sean came out and apologized to my dad. And then Mr. Tanner got out his wallet and gave my dad money to pay for the broken window. And that was it.

Brad: So you got away with it. That's great, Mr. Torres.

Mr. Torres: No, Brad, it wasn't great.

Brad: It wasn't?

Mr. Torres: My story doesn't end there.

Robert: Hey Sean, what's your punishment?

Sean: Well, I'm grounded for two weeks.

Robert: Wow, only two weeks? Not bad for breaking a window.

Sean: Yeah.

Robert: What is it?

Sean: I'm also not allowed to play baseball at all this summer.

Robert: What? But you love baseball.

Sean: Even more than I love Christmas or my birthday.

Robert: That's awful man, I'm sorry.

Sean: I'm not even allowed to watch any of the games either.

Robert: Oh man.

Sean: Yeah, I know. But it's worth it, right? I mean, you're not going to be grounded till you're 35. So that's something anyway.

Robert: Yeah, that's something.

Mr. Torres: All summer long I watched Sean mope around, unable to go to any baseball games. It killed me every time I saw Sean asking other kids how baseball season was going. My best friend was suffering and it was my fault.

But still, I held on to the lie that Sean had broken the window for an entire month. It was the longest month of my life. My guilt was tearing me up inside, eating away at my heart. I couldn't have any fun and I could barely eat.

Brad: Wow, it was really that bad?

Mr. Torres: Lies make you miserable. And that lie ruined my summer.

Brad: So what did you do?

Mr. Torres: Well finally, near the end of the summer, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to tell the truth.

Robert: Hey, Dad.

Guest (Male): Yes, Robert?

Robert: I have something I have to tell you.

Guest (Male): Yes?

Robert: It's about your car.

Mr. Torres: Telling my dad the truth was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But even though I got in a lot of trouble, I felt better than I'd felt all summer.

Brad: Really?

Mr. Torres: Absolutely. Yes, my dad was angry and disappointed in me. But I didn't care because finally, the weight of my lie was gone.

Brad: What happened to Sean once you told the truth?

Mr. Torres: Well, his dad was very upset that he'd lied, but figured that Sean had already suffered enough to learn his lesson. So Mr. Tanner talked the baseball coach into letting Sean play baseball for the last two games of the season. His team won both games, too.

Brad: Nice.

Mr. Torres: It was very nice to see my best friend happy again. But it was even nicer that the lie wasn't staining my heart any longer. You see, Brad, telling a lie might seem like the easy way out, like it'll get you off the hook. But in the end, it leads to a lot of pain for yourself and for everyone else involved. Lying's just not worth the pain that it causes.

Brad: Why'd you tell me that story, Mr. Torres?

Mr. Torres: I just thought it might help you. Anyway, you said your mom's sick? That's why you didn't write your paper?

Brad: No, Mr. Torres. My mom isn't sick. I made that up.

Mr. Torres: You did?

Brad: Yeah, I didn't want to fail your class if you knew that I didn't write the paper because I was just hanging out with my friends.

Mr. Torres: I thought so.

Brad: Really?

Mr. Torres: And I'm proud of you for telling the truth.

Brad: Thanks, Mr. Torres. Really.

Mr. Torres: I believe in you, Brad. You can do well in school and I want you to succeed in my class, but it will take effort.

Brad: Yeah, I know.

Mr. Torres: So since the essay was due today, how about this? I'll give you until next Monday to get a very well-written essay on my desk.

Brad: Whoa, you'd do that?

Mr. Torres: Yes, but just to be fair to the other students, whatever grade you would have earned on it, you'll have to accept one grade lower since you didn't make the deadline. At least then, if you do well on the final, you'll still have a chance at a decent grade. Fair enough?

Brad: Oh, yeah. And thanks, Mr. Torres. Really, thanks for everything.

Aunt Nikki: Wow, Uncle Jon, that was quite a story.

Uncle Jon: Yes, it was, Aunt Nikki.

Aunt Nikki: I'm so glad that Brad decided to tell the truth.

Uncle Jon: Me too. And I can't help but think that Brad decided to tell the truth because of the story that Mr. Torres told him.

Aunt Nikki: Of course, it's never good to lie and it would have been better if young Mr. Torres had never told such a terrible lie in the first place.

Uncle Jon: But when he shared his experience, it helped Brad make a better choice.

Aunt Nikki: Right. We can learn a lot about life from listening to other people's stories.

Uncle Jon: And often listening to their stories helps us to make better decisions in the future.

Aunt Nikki: Girls and boys, did you know that Your Story Hour has dozens of stories that can help you learn how to make good decisions?

Uncle Jon: That's right, like "Backseat Blues" when Austin and his cousins learn how important it is to be present in the moment instead of buried in their phones playing video games.

Aunt Nikki: Or "The Day the Milk Jug Broke" when after buying a bunch of extra groceries, Bella sees how going with her gut and listening to her conscience can lead to heartwarming results.

Uncle Jon: You can find these and so many more stories in the albums on our website.

Aunt Nikki: Just go to YourStoryHour.org and click on Shop in the menu.

Uncle Jon: Once there, you can buy whole albums or just a single story. And if you're looking for your favorite story, you can search for it with a keyword in the search bar at the top of the page.

Aunt Nikki: For example, if I were looking for stories on medical missionary Ida Scudder, I could search for her name or missionary or India or doctor. You get the picture.

Uncle Jon: Aunt Nikki and I love hearing what your favorite stories are or even hearing your ideas for stories we could tell in the future.

Aunt Nikki: So if you have a favorite, let us know. You can send an email to contact@yourstoryhour.org. That's C-O-N-T-A-C-T at YourStoryHour.org.

Uncle Jon: We have to go for now, but remember we love you very much and we hope you can join us next time. Goodbye.

Aunt Nikki: Goodbye.