Adventures in Odyssey

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

John Avery Whittaker: Oh, hi there. Welcome to Odyssey. I'm John Avery Whittaker, but most folks around here call me Whit. Why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting adventure in Odyssey?

Leonard: Got you!

Timmy Riley: It’s been 20 years. Timmy, what are you doing?

PD Barnes: Get in the sack.

Timmy Riley: Oh, great.

PD Barnes: Timmy! I killed Timmy.

Tom Riley: I sure do appreciate you coming with me today, Whit.

John Avery Whittaker: I'm honored that you asked me, Tom.

Tom Riley: Timmy's grave is in a little clearing on the other side of those trees. You know, Tom, you've never told me exactly what happened to Timmy. How he died, I mean. No, I guess I haven't. It's been 20 years. It doesn't seem possible. Has it really been that long?

Yeah, 20 years today, as a matter of fact.

John Avery Whittaker: So that's why you wanted me to come along.

Tom Riley: One of the reasons, I suppose. I mainly just didn't want to be alone today.

John Avery Whittaker: I understand. I don't think you would have been alone even if I hadn't come along, Tom. Look. Do you know him?

Tom Riley: No. Somebody's definitely standing at Timmy's grave. Come on. Excuse me, young man. Can I help you?

PD Barnes: I was wondering if you were going to come today. How are you, Mr. Riley?

Tom Riley: Oh, my word. P.D. Barnes, is that you?

PD Barnes: You remembered. Yes, sir, it's me.

Tom Riley: Well, how have you been?

PD Barnes: Fine, sir. I just... If you'll excuse me, I have to go.

John Avery Whittaker: Tom? Tom, what's going on here? Tom?

Tom Riley: It's all right. Let him go.

John Avery Whittaker: Mr. Barnes, I apologize. Tom's usually the friendliest person in the world.

PD Barnes: I know, and I also know why he's upset. That's the reason I'm here.

John Avery Whittaker: It is?

PD Barnes: Yes, sir. You see, I killed Timmy.

John Avery Whittaker: You killed Timmy? Wait a minute now. I don't know much about Timmy's death, but I thought he drowned in some sort of boating accident.

PD Barnes: He did, but I caused it.

John Avery Whittaker: Look, Mr. Barnes...

PD Barnes: Please, call me P.D.

John Avery Whittaker: Okay, P.D. I’m Whit. Listen, would you mind telling me what happened? You don't have to if you don't want to.

PD Barnes: No, it's all right. There's a bench just up the path a ways. Why don't we go sit down? Did you know Timmy, Whit?

John Avery Whittaker: I met him a few times. I wasn't very involved with kids back then.

PD Barnes: I only knew him for a short while, but he changed my life. He was a good guy, not like me. I was a troublemaker from the get-go. Even though I was small for my age, if I couldn't find any trouble to get into, then I'd make up some of my own. In fact, that's how Timmy and I became friends. I was in trouble.

Leonard: Thought you could get away from me, huh? Not this time, P.D. I got you good.

PD Barnes: Wow, big accomplishment, Leonard. A football player chasing down the smallest guy in the school. What do you do for an encore? Hunt fish in a barrel?

Leonard: You always got a smart remark, don't you? Well, you're not going to be so smart when I get through with you.

PD Barnes: Spoken like a true bad guy. So, what do you want anyway?

Leonard: You know what I want, you little twirp. Swipe my pocket knife, will you?

PD Barnes: No, thanks. I already did that.

Leonard: Quiet! My dad's right, you are a public delinquent.

PD Barnes: Oh, your dad. What a wit.

Leonard: Don't you talk about my dad, punk. At least I have one.

PD Barnes: Congratulations. You must be very proud. Look, Leonard, did you bring me all the way to this apple grove just to push me around? This is getting boring. If you're going to do something to me, then do it. I'm a busy man.

Leonard: Oh, I'm going to do something to you all right, tough guy. I think you need to be softened up a little.

PD Barnes: A burlap sack and some rope? Why, Leonard, what did you have in mind?

Leonard: Get in the sack.

PD Barnes: What? No way!

Leonard: I said get in! Stop it! Let me go! Stop it! What are you doing?

Leonard: Hoisting you up a tree. You like hanging around, don't you?

PD Barnes: Let me out! Leonard, let me down!

Leonard: Hey, P.D., you know what a piñata is?

PD Barnes: Piñata?

Leonard: Yeah, it's what kids in Mexico get for their birthdays. It's a big sack shaped like an animal. They fill it with candy and hang it from a tree. Then all the kids in town come along and take a whack at it with a big stick until it breaks open and all the candy falls out.

PD Barnes: What are you going to do, Leonard?

Leonard: Just think of yourself as a P.D. piñata.

PD Barnes: You'd better not! I'm warning you!

Leonard: No, P.D., I'm warning you. I'm going to count to three. One, two, three!

Timmy Riley: Hey! Hi, Leonard. What you doing?

Leonard: Let go of the stick, Riley.

Timmy Riley: Who you got in the sack?

Leonard: None of your beeswax.

PD Barnes: Help! He's got me in the sack! P.D. Barnes!

Timmy Riley: P.D., huh? Isn't he kind of small to be picking on, Leonard?

Leonard: I'm not picking on him. I'm paying him back for swiping my knife.

Timmy Riley: So that's why you're hanging him from my dad's tree. Well, I think you paid him back enough.

Leonard: I don't. Now get out of the way.

Timmy Riley: Okay, but I wouldn't stand there if I were you.

Leonard: Yeah, well, you're not me. I'll stand wherever I want.

Timmy Riley: Have it your way.

Leonard: Now, as I was saying. One, two, three... What's that? Gangway! What are you doing, Riley?

Timmy Riley: Just what I tried to tell you. I need to break this soil. Better get out of here, Leonard.

Leonard: You're crazy, Riley! Ah! All right, all right, I'm going! So long, Leonard! You're crazy!

PD Barnes: Help! Help! Let me out!

Timmy Riley: Just a second, P.D. I'm coming.

PD Barnes: Get me down from here!

Timmy Riley: Okay, okay. I got you. Easing now. There.

PD Barnes: What were you trying to do, kill me? I could have suffocated, and you're out here playing with your tractor.

Timmy Riley: Sorry, it was the only way I could think of to get Leonard away from you.

PD Barnes: Did I ask you to get Leonard away from me?

Timmy Riley: Well, no. I suppose I could have let him go ahead and beat you.

PD Barnes: I was doing all right by myself.

Timmy Riley: Yeah, you had him right where you wanted him. You've also got a real nasty scrape on your arm there.

PD Barnes: Ow! You don't have to touch it.

Timmy Riley: Sorry. Why'd you have to stick your nose in my business anyway?

PD Barnes: You looked like you needed a friend.

PD Barnes: Well, I didn't, and I don't want one now either.

Timmy Riley: Oh. Well, how about something to eat?

PD Barnes: What?

Timmy Riley: I said, how about something to eat? Eat? Yeah, come on back to the house. I'll fix your arm and then get us something to eat. You do eat, don't you?

PD Barnes: Of course I do. You hungry? Well, yeah. Then come on.

You want another sandwich, P.D.?

PD Barnes: Sure, why not? You know, I see you around school a lot. How come you stay to yourself so much?

Timmy Riley: That's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it?

PD Barnes: Why do you say that?

Timmy Riley: Because I live at an orphanage, all right? Everybody knows that orphans aren't supposed to mix with polite people.

Timmy Riley: So, what's it like being an orphan?

PD Barnes: What?

Timmy Riley: I said, what's it like being an orphan? What do you think it's like? Real lonely, I'd imagine. What happened to your folks?

PD Barnes: I don't know. I never knew my dad, and my mom decided she couldn't take care of me, so she left me at the orphanage.

Timmy Riley: Oh. Do you like it?

PD Barnes: What kind of question is that?

Timmy Riley: A fair one. Do you or don't you?

PD Barnes: Well, I don't have much of a choice now, do I?

Timmy Riley: You might. Would you like to stay here?

PD Barnes: What?

Timmy Riley: Am I not speaking very clearly? I said, would you like to stay here?

PD Barnes: Just like that?

Timmy Riley: Well, no. I'm sure it's more complicated, but we'll let my dad worry about that. Hey, Dad!

PD Barnes: Wait a minute. Are you crazy? You really want me to stay here?

Timmy Riley: Yeah.

Tom Riley: What is it, Tim? Oh, I didn't know you had company. Who's your friend?

Timmy Riley: Dad, this is P.D. Barnes, but he's not my friend. He's an orphan.

Tom Riley: I see. Well, what can I do for you?

Timmy Riley: Could P.D. stay with us for a while?

PD Barnes: Look, I didn't...

Tom Riley: Well, I'll have to talk with your mother about it, but it's okay by me if he wants to stay. Do you want to stay with us, P.D.?

PD Barnes: Sure, why not?

Tom Riley: Okay, I'll call the orphanage and take care of everything. Meanwhile, I could use some help. I got a big batch of apples in the barn just waiting to be pressed into cider.

Timmy Riley: All right! Cider!

PD Barnes: You've never made apple cider before?

PD Barnes: No.

Timmy Riley: Oh, it's a blast! Get him a pair of overalls, Timmy, and I'll meet you both in the barn.

Tom Riley: Yes, sir!

PD Barnes: It was instant acceptance. Something I'd never had. For the next few weeks, I lived at the Rileys, and Timmy and I did just about everything together. We'd get up and work the farm, go to school, and then come back and work the farm some more. It was hard work, but I loved every minute of it. Of course, I didn't tell them that.

But for the first time in my life, I was happy. Then, when things were going really well, my troublemaking streak decided to kick back in. It was the day before I... you know. Timmy and I were getting ready to go camping. I remember I was watching Mr. Riley shoe his horse.

Tom Riley: Main thing to remember is to let the horse know you're in control. Now, you just lift up the hoof, then you position the shoe, and you tack it down.

PD Barnes: I'm glad I don't have to put my shoes on that way.

Timmy Riley: Hey, P.D., you ready to go?

PD Barnes: Yeah, my stuff is on the porch. Dad, have you seen my compass?

Tom Riley: Why, no, son, I haven't.

Timmy Riley: Hmm. Well, we won't need it.

Tom Riley: Where you planning on going?

Timmy Riley: We're going to spend the night in the cabin, then hike up to Trickle Lake in the morning, do some fishing.

Tom Riley: Sounds great.

Timmy Riley: You want to come with us?

Tom Riley: No, you don't want me around spoiling your fun.

Timmy Riley: You wouldn't do that.

PD Barnes: Yeah, he would. He's an adult.

Tom Riley: No, he's right. It's the law. You boys had better head out before it gets too late.

Timmy Riley: What time is it anyway?

Tom Riley: Well, it's... oh, what'd I do with it? Oh, well, I must have left my watch in the house. But the sun's sinking, so you better get going.

Timmy Riley: Okay. Come on, P.D., let's get your stuff.

Tom Riley: Have a good time, and be careful!

Timmy Riley: Okay! We'll be back tomorrow night. See ya!

PD Barnes: I can't believe this cabin. You built this?

Timmy Riley: Not really. I just found it and refurbished it. Now it's sort of my hideout.

PD Barnes: Hideout? You need a hideout?

Timmy Riley: I think everybody does once in a while. You know, a place to be alone and think.

PD Barnes: So nobody knows about this cabin?

Timmy Riley: Only my mom and dad, and now you. Oh. You get enough to eat?

PD Barnes: Yeah.

Timmy Riley: Why don't you get some wood for the fire?

PD Barnes: Okay. I didn't know what to think. Timmy had let me into a circle that up to then had only included his family. That had never happened to me before. I finally knew what it meant to feel secure until I walked back into the cabin. Timmy, what are you doing?

Timmy Riley: Just unrolling the sleeping bag.

PD Barnes: No! Don't touch that! My dad's watch, my mom's necklace, my compass. You took these things?

Timmy Riley: Yeah.

PD Barnes: Why, P.D.? Do you need money? All you have to do is ask.

Timmy Riley: No, I don't need any money.

PD Barnes: Then why?

Timmy Riley: I don't know.

PD Barnes: You can't think of any reason?

Timmy Riley: Maybe I can't figure out why you're all being so nice to me.

PD Barnes: We're being nice to you because you're our friend.

Timmy Riley: I've had friends before, and they've all ended up hurting me.

PD Barnes: Well, P.D., I can't guarantee we'll never hurt your feelings or let you down. I mean, we don't want to and we'll try not to, but we're not perfect.

Timmy Riley: Yeah, I've heard that before too.

PD Barnes: P.D., I do know of one friend who will never hurt you or let you down.

Timmy Riley: You do?

PD Barnes: Uh-huh. I can introduce you to him if you want me to.

Timmy Riley: Where does this friend of yours live?

PD Barnes: Right here, in my heart. His name is Jesus.

PD Barnes: He told me all about the Savior. How He died on a cross for me because He loved me so much. I was intrigued by this love so great that it would actually cause someone to die for someone else. After he finished, I didn't say anything. I just climbed into my sleeping bag and thought about this Jesus until I drifted off to sleep.

The next day we got up really early and hiked up to Trickle Lake. Timmy kept a little rowboat there. Nothing was said about the previous night, but I felt oddly happy, like I knew a great secret. Well, we pushed out into the lake, and almost immediately Timmy started reeling them in.

Timmy Riley: Whoa! Here's another one!

PD Barnes: What? How many does that make?

Timmy Riley: Well, let's see. One, two, three, and this one makes four.

PD Barnes: Four? That's no fair. Hand me the bait can.

Timmy Riley: Here.

PD Barnes: I can't believe this. I haven't even had one bite yet.

Timmy Riley: You just got to be more patient, that's all.

PD Barnes: Patient? I've been sitting here for two hours. How much more patient can I be? You're using a special bait or something, aren't you?

Timmy Riley: You just handed me the can. I'm using the same stuff you're using.

PD Barnes: Then how are you doing it?

Timmy Riley: It's all in the wrist, P.D. All in the wrist.

PD Barnes: I don't believe it. There's got to be something. I know what it is. I'm facing the shore. All the fish have got to get through you to get to me.

Timmy Riley: Shh. I think number five may be on the line.

PD Barnes: Already? Oh, man!

Timmy Riley: Shh. Got him! Come to papa, big boy!

PD Barnes: This isn't fair! I want to sit on that side of the boat!

Timmy Riley: Hey, P.D., stay still!

PD Barnes: But I want to sit on that side of the boat!

Timmy Riley: P.D., stop moving! P.D., sit down!

I told you to sit down! P.D.! P.D., hang on! Something had a hold of me down there. Timmy, I couldn't... Timmy! Timmy! Timmy!

PD Barnes: P.D., what happened down there?

PD Barnes: I got tangled up in something. Vines or a net, maybe. I don't know. Timmy struggled for a long time and finally got me free, and he pushed me toward the surface, but he got caught himself. I couldn't go after him. I couldn't swim. He saved my life, took my place.

They dragged the lake and found Timmy's body that afternoon. I told the authorities what happened, but they took me back to the orphanage before I could see Mr. Riley.

John Avery Whittaker: Well, that was unfortunate.

PD Barnes: Yeah. Well, you know how kids are. It wasn't long before the rumors started going around that I'd killed somebody.

John Avery Whittaker: But you didn't kill anyone. It was an accident.

PD Barnes: I was responsible. If I hadn't been playing around, Timmy would still be alive today. Anyway, I began to like having that reputation and I started acting on it. I thought I could do anything I wanted, but found out I couldn't when I was arrested for armed robbery a couple of years later.

John Avery Whittaker: Oh, no.

PD Barnes: I was put in juvenile detention until I turned 18. But believe it or not, that was actually a good thing. See, what Timmy told me that night in the cabin about Jesus never left me. Detention gave me time to think about it, and I gave my life to the Lord while I was in jail. I’m a minister to inner-city kids now, Whit.

That's why I'm here. I wanted to tell Mr. Riley how Timmy influenced me, what he did for me. But I never got a chance to talk to him, tell him how sorry I was. Now, I guess I never will.

John Avery Whittaker: Nonsense. You're not getting out of it that easy. Neither is Tom. Come on. You and I are going out to the Riley farm. Tom? Come in, Whit.

Tom Riley: I was just looking at pictures of Timmy. I didn't remember that he had so many freckles.

John Avery Whittaker: Tom, P.D. told me what happened, how Timmy died.

Tom Riley: Yeah, I thought he might.

John Avery Whittaker: He's in my car.

Tom Riley: I can't talk to him, Whit. It's too painful.

John Avery Whittaker: Tom, it was a mistake. One that he's paid for. How long are you going to keep blaming him?

Tom Riley: Is that what you think, Whit? I don't blame him. I blame me.

John Avery Whittaker: What?

Tom Riley: I should have been there. I might have been able to prevent it. I was going to go along, but I decided to stay, and my son died. I can never forgive myself.

PD Barnes: Mr. Riley?

Tom Riley: P.D., no, no.

John Avery Whittaker: Wait, Tom, listen to him.

PD Barnes: No. Mr. Riley, please, hear me out. I overheard what you just said, Mr. Riley. I'm so sorry about Timmy, but you need to know that he didn't die in vain. He saved my life, laid his down for mine. And more importantly, he helped save my soul. He introduced me to Jesus.

He made Him real to me. You see, I can wholeheartedly believe that Jesus died for people who don't deserve it because Timmy sacrificed himself for me. I know that nothing I can say will take away the pain, but I don't think Timmy wants either one of us to feel guilty anymore. Timmy helped me. Maybe I can help you. Oh, my boy. I know. I know. You wanted to help P.D. I think you just did.

Chris: Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Most of us will never have to lay down our lives for our friends, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to find other ways to show them this kind of love. And the very best way is by introducing them to Jesus and His love. Love so great that He died on the cross for our sins.

And that's our adventure. Did you like it? If you did, write to me and tell me about it. The address is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. In Canada, the address is Box 9800, Vancouver, B.C., V6B 4G3. And don't forget to ask about how you can get a copy of today's program called "Greater Love."

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "Greater Love" was written and directed by Phil Lollar. Our production engineer was Dave Arnold and our executive producer, Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.