Adventures in Odyssey

Focus on the Family: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey!

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

Donna Barkley: A dog?

Connie Kendall: Sure, why not?

George Barkley: You saying you don’t want the dog? Come here, boy. Come on.

Donna Barkley: He’s smiling at us.

Jimmy Barkley: His lips are stuck to his teeth.

George Barkley: Okay, Dad, I hate to do this, but you leave me no option. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Donna Barkley: I’m not complaining, Connie, but it’s just that so much has happened. With Dad’s decision to go into the ministry and Mom being pregnant, I just wish sometimes that things could be, I don’t know.

Connie Kendall: Yeah, I know what you mean. Seems like your family’s been through a lot of changes.

Donna Barkley: Well, now Dad’s studying all the time for seminary and Mom’s sick a lot. It’s just not normal.

Connie Kendall: Normal?

Donna Barkley: Yeah, you know, it’d just be nice to have something happen in my life that wasn’t so bizarre. I remember when—what in the world?

George Barkley: Hold on, Donna, I think my pal is back.

Donna Barkley: Your pal?

George Barkley: I must have left the back door open when I took the trash out. Okay, where are you? There you are.

Donna Barkley: I didn’t know you had a dog.

George Barkley: I don’t. Will you do me a favor, Donna? Call the dog pound. The number’s on the pad next to the phone.

Donna Barkley: You’re sending him to the pound?

George Barkley: Yes, it’s the third time he’s come in. I don’t know how you keep escaping, fella, but it has to stop. Gotcha! There, there, take it easy. I’m not going to hurt you.

Donna Barkley: Oh, you can’t send him to the pound.

George Barkley: I have to. What else am I supposed to do with him?

Donna Barkley: But he’s so cute.

George Barkley: Cute? Are you kidding? I’ve seen better looking rats. Look, if he has an owner, they’ll know to check the pound.

Donna Barkley: Well, I’ll take him home.

George Barkley: That’s between you and your parents. Call the pound, Donna. If you want him, you can get him there.

Donna Barkley: Okay, I will.

Focus on the Family: It's hard to trust a lot of entertainment these days, but you can always trust Adventures in Odyssey. Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas have been teaching kids biblical truth for over 35 years, and a club membership will give them even more episodes to keep them strong in the Lord.

Whether you play episodes in the car, before bed, or anytime, you can be sure they’re learning to be more like Christ. Learn all about the club at adventuresinodyssey.com. That’s adventuresinodyssey.com.

Donna Barkley: A dog?

Connie Kendall: Sure, why not?

George Barkley: You already have a cat.

Donna Barkley: All Ferguson does is lay around and get fat. I want a dog. I need a dog.

George Barkley: Need?

Donna Barkley: Yes, need.

George Barkley: I don’t think so, sweetheart. Now, please, I have to get through this reading for my seminary class. Do you have any idea how Greek Greek is to me?

Donna Barkley: Okay, Dad, I hate to do this, but you leave me no option. I want a family meeting.

George Barkley: Oh, brother. Family meetings are for important decisions.

Donna Barkley: This is important. I want a family meeting.

George Barkley: Hear ye, hear ye, this meeting of the Barkley family will now convene and come to order. Meeting called by Donna Barkley. You really think you’ve got enough votes for a dog, Donna? Now Mary, would you call the roll, please?

Mary Barkley: Are you serious? I think you can see we’re all here.

George Barkley: Okay, everyone is present and accounted for, so a quorum is definitely present.

Jimmy Barkley: Excuse me, will the chair please speak in English? Boy, you send a guy to seminary.

Mary Barkley: He means we’re all here, Jimmy. He only uses words like that when he gets nervous.

Donna Barkley: Especially when it comes to getting a dog.

George Barkley: But there’s no reason to be nervous because we’re not getting a dog.

Jimmy Barkley: I think that statement is out of order, Your Eminence.

George Barkley: Okay, let’s go back over the ground rules. As you know, your mother and I have two votes each. You each have one. Now let the record show that I’m opposed to having a dog. I’ve been opposed to the idea, and I remain opposed.

Donna Barkley: Good. Let’s vote.

George Barkley: Wait a minute, no discussion?

Jimmy Barkley: Why make a motion we don’t have a discussion?

George Barkley: Should we discuss the motion?

Donna Barkley: All those in favor of getting a dog, raise your right hand.

George Barkley: Hold on a minute. Something this important should be a roll call vote. Madam Secretary?

Mary Barkley: Okay. Donna?

Donna Barkley: Yes, I want a dog.

Mary Barkley: Jimmy?

Jimmy Barkley: Yes.

Mary Barkley: George?

George Barkley: As much as it pains me and for reasons heretofore stipulated, I must vote my conscience and cast a no to Fido.

Mary Barkley: Well, that’s two votes yes and two votes no.

Jimmy Barkley: Looks like it’s up to you, Mom.

Donna Barkley: Yeah, what’s it going to be, Mom?

Mary Barkley: Oh, I really hate to do this. I mean, choosing between two warring factions. But I have decided.

Donna Barkley: Say yes, Mom.

Mary Barkley: My decision...

George Barkley: Go ahead, Mary. They’ve got to face reality.

Mary Barkley: I vote yes.

Donna Barkley: All right!

George Barkley: You what? Mary, how could you?

Mary Barkley: Oh, don't take it personally, dear. Donna can be very persuasive with her lobbying efforts. That’s four votes yes to two votes no. Sorry, Dad. I make a motion we adjourn.

Jimmy Barkley: I second the motion.

Mary Barkley: Motion passed. Meeting adjourned.

George Barkley: Wait a minute, wait a minute. We need to discuss this. You're sure you want to do this?

Donna Barkley: As sure as I’ve ever been about anything.

George Barkley: No comment. Now, I want you to take a deep breath.

Donna Barkley: Why?

George Barkley: Because this pound is what your room will smell like if you let that dog sleep in your bed, which is why we won’t let him. Got it?

Donna Barkley: Got it.

Guest (Male): Yes, may I help you?

George Barkley: I’m George Barkley. We called about the dog you got from Whit’s End.

Guest (Male): Oh, yeah, Rascal.

George Barkley: What?

Guest (Male): Rascal, that’s what we call him because he's got a knack for escaping. Four times since we got him. That’s a record.

George Barkley: Rascal, huh?

Donna Barkley: Forget it, Dad. His name is Harry.

Guest (Male): Harry. Fill out these forms, please, and I’ll make sure he’s ready to go.

George Barkley: All right.

Donna Barkley: Wait until you see him. He’s so cute. I can’t wait to get him home.

George Barkley: And house train him and take him for walks and make sure he gets his shots.

Donna Barkley: I know, Dad.

George Barkley: The only reason your mother and I have agreed to this is because we have confidence that you’ll take care of him.

Donna Barkley: And you got outvoted.

George Barkley: We won’t mention that. You’re the one who wanted the dog the most, honey, so we expect you to take the most responsibility.

Donna Barkley: Oh, I will.

Guest (Male): Yep, he’s ready if you want to have a look.

Donna Barkley: Oh, I’ve already seen him.

George Barkley: But I haven’t. Here’s your form. Sign at the bottom, please. All right. There you go.

Guest (Male): Good. Now, follow me.

Donna Barkley: Do you know where he came from?

Guest (Male): No, just showed up one day at Whit’s End, so Connie called us. We’ve given him the usual time, but nobody’s claimed him. Let’s see, number 22, there. Well, that’s him. We figure he’s about two years old, but he’s still a puppy at heart.

George Barkley: I’m sorry, we said we wanted a dog.

Guest (Male): It is a dog. Not a purebred, but a dog.

Donna Barkley: Dad, he’s beautiful. He’s just what I thought a Harry would look like.

George Barkley: Honey, that is the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen.

Guest (Male): You saying you don’t want the dog?

Donna Barkley: We want him.

George Barkley: Now, wait a minute, Donna.

Donna Barkley: Please, Dad, I’ll take care of him. He’s exactly what I want. Look at those eyes.

George Barkley: Are they supposed to be yellow?

Donna Barkley: And that mouth! He’s smiling at us.

George Barkley: His lips are stuck to his teeth. He’ll be great. He can keep burglars away and keep mice out of our garage and drool on Jimmy, and I won’t be interested in boys so much because I’ll have him to take care of.

George Barkley: Okay, we’ll take him. Let’s go, Fido.

Donna Barkley: Harry.

Guest (Male): Harry. You’ve made a fine choice. Donna! Donna!

Donna Barkley: Yeah, Dad?

George Barkley: Can you turn down the volume on your dog, please?

Donna Barkley: Come on, fella. You should see Harry fetch a stick. He never brings it back.

George Barkley: Clever.

Donna Barkley: Come on, Dad. You’ll like him better if you play with him. He’s so cute, aren’t you, Harry?

George Barkley: I’ve seen car accidents look cuter. All right, so long as I don’t catch anything. All right, come here, boy. Come on. Hey! Stop it, Harry! That’s so weird. He doesn’t growl at anyone else.

George Barkley: Look, unless Harry can help me with my Greek homework, I need you guys to get him away from here. It’s distracting me. And your mama’s lying down. Don’t forget what the doctor said; she needs rest.

Donna Barkley: Okay, Dad.

George Barkley: Look, I tell you what. Why don’t you run to the drugstore to pick up your mom’s prescription and take Harry with you? Maybe someone will claim him.

Donna Barkley: Okay. Come on, Harry, let’s go.

Jimmy Barkley: I’m staying, Donna. Go ahead.

Donna Barkley: All right, see you.

Jimmy Barkley: See you.

George Barkley: Jimmy?

Jimmy Barkley: Yeah, Dad?

George Barkley: Do you really like that dog?

Jimmy Barkley: Yeah, he’s okay. I don’t like being seen in public with him, but he’s okay. Why?

George Barkley: I just can’t figure out what Donna sees in him, that’s all. Donna, it’s 3:00 in the morning. Will you please do something about your dog?

Donna Barkley: What am I supposed to do with him?

George Barkley: Don’t tempt me.

Donna Barkley: Harry, be quiet!

George Barkley: Oh, that was effective. I think he’s lonely.

Donna Barkley: What am I supposed to do? Dad won’t let him sleep in my room.

Jimmy Barkley: I once read somewhere that if you put a ticking alarm clock with a dog, it helps him sleep.

George Barkley: Donna!

Donna Barkley: Okay, okay! I’m giving him my alarm clock.

George Barkley: Terrific. That way he can see how late he’s keeping us up. Donna!

Donna Barkley: I’m going, I’m going! Okay, Harry, this clock is supposed to help you sleep. See where the big hand is? And the little hand? Well, that means it’s time for all good dogs to close their eyes and—no, we’re not playing catch. Come over here and lie down. Jeez. Harry, be quiet and go to sleep. Oh, Harry, lie down and go to sleep. Now you stay just like that while I go to bed. No, stay, stay. Goodnight, Harry. Now maybe I can get some sleep. Oh, brother!

Focus on the Family: On the way to Adventures in Odyssey Album 74, buckle up! There are sure to be bumps along the way. Wooton faces a legal battle.

Guest (Male): I’m taking you to court!

Wooton Bassett: For what?

Guest (Male): For destroying my chance at future earnings by tainting my character.

Focus on the Family: Olivia struggles to explain her faith.

Guest (Female): How does your story relate to the doctrine of sanctification?

Olivia: What?

Focus on the Family: Whit must go into parenting mode.

Guest (Male): Why are you jealous or something because...

John Avery Whittaker: Okay, that’s enough.

Focus on the Family: Buck and Jules hit a rough patch.

Buck: Why are you so mad?

Jules: Because it’s none of your business.

Focus on the Family: And Renee’s friendship with Whit faces its biggest test.

Renee: Oh, I can’t believe Mr. Whittaker is being so stubborn and unreasonable, Cog. This is a scientific breakthrough of monumental proportions, and he is crushing it.

Focus on the Family: So yes, it’s time to buckle up in Album 74, available now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, CD, and download. Find out more at adventuresinodyssey.com. Harry? It’s been awfully quiet. Harry! Well, maybe this is a good time to get some gardening done. Oh, there you are. What are you doing in my... our bed? Oh, no! No! Not my flowers! Oh, Harry, you wouldn’t dig up my flowers. You would! Donna!

George Barkley: Mary! Jimmy!

Mary Barkley: Oh, George, what’s... Oh, no.

George Barkley: What is this mess?

Mary Barkley: Oh, Harry must have gotten into the trash again.

George Barkley: Again?

Mary Barkley: Yeah, I think he thinks it’s a new game, scatter the trash.

George Barkley: And what’s this? Are these my slippers? My favorite slippers?

Mary Barkley: You mean weren’t those your favorite slippers?

George Barkley: It looks like someone threw them under a running lawnmower.

Mary Barkley: That’s our Harry.

George Barkley: I don’t believe it. Donna! Okay, wait a minute, Lawrence, I’ll get my glove and bat. Where did I put them? Oh, yeah, the closet. Let’s see, glove, where’s my glove? Ah, glove. Bat, bat... Bat? What happened to my bat? Looks like someone attacked it with a chisel. Harry! Donna!

Mary Barkley: Donna, did you see the mess Harry made in the family room?

Jimmy Barkley: Donna, Harry chewed up my best cleats.

George Barkley: Donna, Harry needs a bath.

Family Voices: Donna! Donna! Donna! Donna!

Donna Barkley: What? What did he do now?

George Barkley: Calm down. He didn’t do anything, this time. But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.

Donna Barkley: Uh-oh.

George Barkley: Look, you voted to get a dog and you understood fully that he would be your responsibility.

Donna Barkley: I know.

George Barkley: Everybody’s okay to help out now and then, but he’s your dog.

Donna Barkley: I know, Dad. He’s been a little out of control.

George Barkley: No, not a little; a lot. Between your mother’s pregnancy and my schoolwork, it’s just not helpful.

Donna Barkley: Yeah.

George Barkley: Basically, it comes down to this: you either keep him in line or he goes back to the pound. Do you understand?

Donna Barkley: Yes, sir.

George Barkley: Good. That’s all I wanted to say.

Donna Barkley: Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll take care of him. Oh, please, Harry, don’t play around. It’s 2:30. Please? Here’s a nice ticking clock. Listen. Please, Harry, why can’t you just be normal and sleep like everyone else?

I like you and I want to keep you, but you have to sleep so I can sleep. Please? I know you want to play, but I have a long day tomorrow. All I wanted was a normal dog, but you get into everything and dig up the garden and stay up all night and—stop it! Now lie still and go to sleep.

Oh, come here. I didn’t mean to yell at you, but I did. But cut it out. You don’t care, do you? Even if I yell at you, you still love me. You’re a real pain, but at least you like me no matter what I do. Listen to the clock, Harry. Okay? Just listen. That’s right. Come on, Harry, listen to the clock and go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Oh, thanks a lot, clock!

Jimmy Barkley: Donna? Donna?

Donna Barkley: Hmm?

Jimmy Barkley: Better wake up.

Donna Barkley: Oh, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I just wanted to squeeze some studying in before work. I have a geography test tomorrow and—oh, I’m so tired. I don’t know how I’m going to pass this test.

Jimmy Barkley: Yeah, well, I think that’s the least of your worries.

Donna Barkley: Huh? What do you mean? Oh, what’s Harry done now?

Jimmy Barkley: Made you late for work.

Donna Barkley: What? What time is it?

Jimmy Barkley: 4:30.

Donna Barkley: What? Oh, no! No! No! Hi, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Hi, Donna. Uh-oh, what’s wrong?

Donna Barkley: Nothing. Everything.

Connie Kendall: Everything? Wow, that’s a lot of wrong.

Donna Barkley: Harry almost made me lose my job today. I was reprimanded by my boss for being late. And if I tell Dad, he’s going to make me take Harry back to the pound.

Connie Kendall: Oh.

Donna Barkley: What’s worse is that I don’t blame him. I love Harry, but he’s nothing but trouble.

Connie Kendall: But you knew that when you got him, right? I mean, didn’t you?

Donna Barkley: Well, I thought so. But I expected him to at least be normal. But he’s not. He gets into everything, spilling things, digging up the garden, chewing on our shoes, and he’s a mess.

Connie Kendall: Sounds normal to me.

Donna Barkley: I didn’t think it was. You know, it’s funny, but this is the second time we’ve talked about being normal.

Connie Kendall: What do you mean?

Donna Barkley: By normal? What’s normal? Nothing weird or unusual or hard to deal with.

Connie Kendall: Maybe that’s part of the problem.

Donna Barkley: What?

Connie Kendall: I remember feeling like you do when my parents first split up. It’s like everything was out of my control and nothing seemed normal. And then I realized that what I thought was normal had nothing to do with real life.

Donna Barkley: Huh?

Connie Kendall: When my parents split up, I suddenly discovered that life can be strange and weird and hard to deal with, you know, out of my control. It’s like the rules suddenly changed. I kept expecting things to be this big thing called normal, and they almost never were.

Donna Barkley: I know all that, but...

Connie Kendall: But what? Here’s a wild guess, okay? For a long time, your family has seemed pretty normal the way most of us think of normal. Happy marriage, good kids.

Donna Barkley: Hey, don’t forget about Jimmy.

Connie Kendall: Okay, pretty good kids. But things have changed lately, and what used to be normal isn’t normal anymore. It’s kind of hard for you to cope.

Donna Barkley: But what’s this have to do with Harry?

Connie Kendall: Again, it’s just a wild guess, but you figured a dog might fix things, make them sane again. But it hasn’t. At least not the way you thought. Is that a good guess?

Donna Barkley: Sounds like it.

Connie Kendall: Well, it sounds to me like you’re going to have to do what I did: change your expectations about normal. Your life will keep changing and you’ll have to get used to a new kind of normal.

Donna Barkley: How did you do that?

Connie Kendall: Well, when my parents divorced, I didn’t do it very well. But now I know Jesus and, well, it’s what you already know to do, Donna. You have to trust God. That’s what it always comes back to. The only way to cope is to trust Him.

Donna Barkley: I do trust God, I really do. But I’d love to get through just one day without something strange happening.

Jimmy Barkley: Donna!

Donna Barkley: Hi, Jimmy.

Jimmy Barkley: Hi, Connie. Donna, have you seen Harry?

Donna Barkley: No, I was at work and then I came here. Why?

Jimmy Barkley: I’ve been looking for him for the past two hours. I think he ran away.

Donna Barkley: What? It’s too quiet. This is driving me crazy. I never thought I’d want to hear Harry’s bark again. Where’s Dad? What’s taking him so long?

Mary Barkley: Be patient, Donna.

Donna Barkley: Well, how long could it take to put up a few posters? We finished ages ago.

Mary Barkley: He was putting them up on the edge of town. There’s no telling where Harry might run off to.

Donna Barkley: I just hope nothing happened to him.

George Barkley: Don’t worry, I think Harry’s a born wanderer. Oh, that must be your father.

Donna Barkley: Oh, look, it is!

Jimmy Barkley: Does he have Harry with him? No.

George Barkley: Hi, guys. Any word?

Mary Barkley: No.

Donna Barkley: Where in the world is he?

George Barkley: Oh, I’m sure he’ll turn up. A dog that ugly can’t travel incognito for too long, unless he gets arrested for impersonating a moose, of course.

Donna Barkley: Thanks, Dad.

George Barkley: Now, Donna, don’t worry, seriously. It’s a small town; someone’s bound to find him.

Donna Barkley: Or run over him.

George Barkley: Now, stop it. It’s out of our hands. The best thing we can do is just go about our business until someone calls. All right? Or we could just sit here and worry. Why does this house seem so much quieter?

Donna Barkley: Oh, Harry, where are you, you silly dog? Why don’t you come home? If you come back, I’ll buy you a new clock.

Mary Barkley: Donna?

Donna Barkley: Yeah, Mom?

Mary Barkley: What are you doing down here? You all right?

Donna Barkley: Yeah, I’m okay. I was just sitting here thinking about Harry.

Mary Barkley: Oh?

Donna Barkley: Yeah. After I got in trouble for being late for work, I thought I’d get rid of him even if Dad didn’t make me.

Mary Barkley: I don’t think your dad really would have made you take him back to the pound.

Donna Barkley: Maybe not, but I wanted to. I was tired of dealing with him. Well, at least until I thought about what it’d be like if I came home and he wasn’t here. It’s kind of dumb, but I realized how much I look forward to that: coming home, wrestling around with him, talking to him.

Mary Barkley: You talk to Harry?

Donna Barkley: Well, yeah. No matter what I did or said, he still jumped on me and played with me. It’s like he loved me no matter what. That meant a lot to me, especially with everything else that’s going on around here.

Mary Barkley: Look, sweetheart, I know we’ve all been preoccupied with different things. Your dad’s studying and my being pregnant hasn’t been easy on you. I think we underestimated how all the changes would affect us.

And I think we underestimated how much you might need a little extra attention, a little extra time just to talk and be listened to.

Donna Barkley: It’s okay, really.

Mary Barkley: No, no, it isn’t. Your father and I talked about it, and we’re going to work harder to make sure that you and Jimmy don’t get lost in everything that’s happened. Even if it’s just a family night out or more dinners together, something, anything to keep us connected. We’ll figure it out, okay?

Donna Barkley: Yeah. Thanks, Mom. Hi, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Hi, Donna. Any sign of Harry?

Donna Barkley: No, we haven’t heard anything. I hope he was all right last night, out there all alone.

Connie Kendall: Well, I think he spent a lot of nights like that before you got him. He’s a survivor.

Donna Barkley: Funny, I didn’t sleep when he was home and I didn’t sleep when he wasn’t. What am I going to do?

Connie Kendall: Count sheep? I don’t know. Are you doing okay otherwise?

Donna Barkley: Better. I had a long talk with Mom last night and, well, I think we’re going to work out a new kind of normal.

Connie Kendall: Oh, really? And how long do you think that’ll last?

Donna Barkley: Until the next new normal comes along, I guess.

Connie Kendall: Good plan. Hey, now that sounds familiar. Hello? Who’s in my kitchen? No way! It couldn’t be. Harry?

Donna Barkley: Harry! I cannot figure out how he gets in! Oh, Harry, where have you been? Come here, you bad dog! Oh, Harry, why didn’t you come home? Didn’t you see the posters? We were looking all over for you!

Look, you’re a mess! How did you get so muddy? Look, Connie, it’s Harry! Harry’s back!

Connie Kendall: Yeah, I noticed. Look what he did to the kitchen.

Donna Barkley: Oh, I’ll clean it up.

Connie Kendall: Oh, forget about it. I had to mop in here anyway.

Donna Barkley: Harry, you’re home.

Connie Kendall: All things considered, maybe you should think about changing his name.

Donna Barkley: Changing his name? To what?

Connie Kendall: How about Normal?

Donna Barkley: I like it. He never answered to Harry anyway. Come on, Normal, let’s go home.

Focus on the Family: Coping with changes in your family or with your friends can be hard, especially when the changes seem like they’re out of your control. But that doesn’t mean the changes have to ruin everything for you.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That means he’s always there for you as a constant friend and the Lord of all the changes in your life. That’s why it’s best to trust him, no matter what happens. He loves you and he’s with you.

Thanks for joining us. You know, we’d love to hear from you. If you ever want to write to us, just send your letter to Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3. Be sure to ask how you can get your own copy of today’s episode. It’s called "Pet Peeves." That address again is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "Pet Peeves" was written by Paul McCusker and Chris Fabry and directed by Paul McCusker. Our production engineer was Bob Luttrell and our executive producer is Chuck Bolte. And I’m Chris, hoping you’ll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.