Adventures in Odyssey

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

Bernard Walton: Hi, this is Bernard Walton. You know, I can't think of anything I'd rather do than hang around with you for a time of wonder and excitement. Then again, getting my squeegee caught in my suspenders is exciting to me. Anyway, welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

Kyle: With Town Next Exit! This is my son, Graham. One day, he's going to take over the farm.

Graham: All I do is feed pigs and shuck corn.

Kyle: Pulled up beside your station wagon and saw a pig's snout sticking out the back window. You've got to be kidding.

Eugene Meltsner: Gas, food, lodging, next exit. Littering prohibited, $500 fine. Mom's Diner, exit 143. Come taste the home cooking.

Bernard Walton: Do you really have to do that?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Walton, but I'm having some trouble gaining intellectual stimulation from watching miles and miles of corn pass before my eyes. I need to channel my mental energy somewhere.

Bernard Walton: Now, come on, Eugene. You've been like this ever since your computer busted two hours ago. You've got to have more imagination than that. Here, let's play 20 questions. That'll make the time go faster.

Eugene Meltsner: 20 questions? Sure.

Bernard Walton: Okay, I'm thinking of a thing. Now, you got 20 questions to figure out what it is.

Eugene Meltsner: Is it corn?

Bernard Walton: I don't want to play anymore.

Eugene Meltsner: With Town Next Exit! That could possibly be a flourishing metropolis. You think they might have a computer repair shop there?

Bernard Walton: We're in the middle of Iowa. Unless you can make microchips out of cow chips, there's not going to be a computer repair shop for probably 200 miles.

Eugene Meltsner: Joe's Park and Dine. Historical marker quarter mile ahead. Historical marker! Can we stop and read it?

Bernard Walton: You've got to be kidding.

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Walton, I beg you, please! I adore history. It could hold me over for hours and hours.

Bernard Walton: Eugene, we've got 1,700 more miles to go. Now, are you going to... oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! Deer! It's a deer!

Eugene Meltsner: What?

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Guest (Male): You're at a crossroads in your life.

Guest (Female): If only there was a way to know for sure.

Guest (Male): This will be your last chance.

Guest (Male): I know who I am.

Guest (Female): God's trying to give me a message here.

Guest (Male): I didn't know it was dangerous.

Focus on the Family: It's Album 80, Re-written, the final album available on CD. All new adventures will continue on the Adventures in Odyssey Club. Find out more at adventuresinodyssey.com.

Bernard Walton: Eugene, you okay?

Eugene Meltsner: Satisfactory. And you?

Bernard Walton: Yeah, I'm okay. What did we hit?

Eugene Meltsner: The historical marker. Donald Wood, 1927 to 1986.

Kyle: Hey, you guys okay?

Bernard Walton: Yeah, we're fine.

Kyle: What happened?

Bernard Walton: Oh, nearly ran into a deer. Swerved over and hit this sign.

Kyle: Wow, got quite a dent there.

Bernard Walton: Yeah. Where am I going to find a body shop around here?

Kyle: Well, that's where you're fortunate. Just so happens that I have the only repair shop in the area. If you'd like, I've got a tow bar. I can pull you up to the house.

Bernard Walton: Well, now, I'd appreciate that.

Kyle: Okay, I'll be right back. Looks like a little damage to the radiator.

Bernard Walton: You going to have to replace it?

Kyle: Not sure.

Graham: Dad, what's going on?

Kyle: Oh, good, you're just in time. Eugene, Bernard, this is my son, Graham. Graham, say hello to Eugene and Bernard.

Graham: Hi.

Kyle: They're from a town called Odyssey.

Graham: Really? Is that a big city? It's bigger than this place, isn't it?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, yes, a little bit. According to your population sign, it's 97 times larger.

Graham: Wow! How many computer stores do you have?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, several. Four hardware, six software.

Graham: Cool.

Kyle: Graham, hand me a 5/16 socket and ratchet.

Graham: Yes, sir.

Kyle: As far as the bodywork goes, you've got five separate parts that need to be replaced.

Graham: Here, Dad.

Kyle: Thanks.

Bernard Walton: I'm going to have to get in touch with my insurance company.

Graham: So, do you work in a skyscraper?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, actually, I'm a student. Graham, you gave me a 5/8. I asked for a 5/16.

Graham: Oh, sorry. Here.

Eugene Meltsner: Thanks.

Graham: So, have you ever seen a bank robbery?

Bernard Walton: A bank robbery? Graham, would you stop pestering Eugene? Now, I'll have to call several places in Des Moines to see if anybody's got these parts.

Kyle: How long do you think it'll take?

Bernard Walton: Oh, two or three days to get the parts, a couple of days' labor. I'd say five or six days at the least.

Kyle: Five or six days? No getting it done any faster.

Bernard Walton: Oh.

Kyle: Look, I was just thinking. There's a hotel about seven miles north of here, but it's all full. Several couples came in from out of town to go to the Donald Wood Memorial Fair this weekend. You may as well stay with us till I get your truck fixed.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, we would hate to be an inconvenience.

Kyle: Oh, that's all right. If you're an inconvenience, we'll just put you in the barn with the cows.

Bernard Walton: I'm no freeloader. If we stay, we'll pay you.

Kyle: Well, maybe I'll get some work out of you instead.

Graham: You're going all the way to San Diego?

Bernard Walton: Yeah, I'm trading in my truck. Got a good deal from a friend on a new one.

Graham: Oh, no. This accident isn't going to mess that up, will it?

Kyle: No, I'll fix it up. Got bent up pretty good, though. He ran over the Donald Wood marker.

Graham: No!

Kyle: It'll be replaced. Don't worry.

Eugene Meltsner: Excuse me. I feel I have a somewhat extensive knowledge of American history, and yet I've never heard of Donald Wood. Who is he?

Graham: You don't know Donald Wood? Donald Wood put this town on the map. As a matter of fact, after he died, we renamed the city after him.

Kyle: Oh, yeah. We owe a lot to Donald.

Eugene Meltsner: But what did he do?

Kyle: He invented graphite handle pruning shears. Revolutionized pruning. It'll never be the same.

Graham: Did you tell them about the fair, Kyle?

Kyle: Oh, yeah. We've also renamed the county fair after him. It's this weekend. You should be here for that. Our county fairs are great.

Graham: And Woody is going to win the purple ribbon, right, Dad?

Kyle: Well, I don't know about that, honey. The kids are entering their pigs in the pig judging contest. Graham's pig really has a chance to win, I think. Oh, he sure did a nice job with Woody. That's his pig. Fed him, cleaned him. Yeah, Graham's going to be quite a farmer one day.

Bernard Walton: Is that right?

Kyle: Yep. I'm mighty proud of him. One day, he's going to take over the farm, take over the garage. Isn't that right, Graham?

Graham: Oh, yeah. I mean, if I'm still here.

Kyle: What do you mean?

Graham: Well, what if Mom has another baby and he takes over the farm? Then I'll just probably move somewhere else and let him have it.

Kyle: He's kidding.

Graham: Well, I was just thinking. You know, maybe... never mind. I was kidding. Anybody want more potatoes?

Eugene Meltsner: Hello, Graham.

Graham: Hi.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, is that Woody over there? He certainly is an attractive animal. A large, attractive animal.

Graham: It's a pig. Pigs are ugly.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, perhaps not to another pig. What are you doing out here?

Graham: Just strolling and reading.

Eugene Meltsner: What are you reading? Something I found on your father's bookshelf.

Graham: A dictionary?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, yes. Actually, I was unable to find reading material that suited my inclinations. Most of it involved farming or tractor repair. I'm not exactly fluent in those languages as you and your father are.

Graham: Yeah, we kind of have to know that stuff around here.

Eugene Meltsner: I find it somewhat fascinating. That is, life on a farm. That is, from a purely agronomic vantage point.

Graham: Better than Odyssey?

Eugene Meltsner: I wouldn't know how to compare the two.

Graham: You guys have a park?

Eugene Meltsner: A park? Yes.

Graham: Arcades?

Eugene Meltsner: A couple, yes.

Graham: A zoo?

Eugene Meltsner: No.

Graham: Still, you know what we've got? A traffic light. We got one this year on Main Street. Nobody even pays attention to it. There's never more than one car on the road at a time anyway. Everybody just goes right through it. Well, that's what we do for fun around here. We walk over to Main Street and watch the stoplight. Green, yellow, red. Green, yellow, red. It never changes. Nothing around here ever does. All I do is feed pigs and shuck corn. Oh yeah, and I get to pull the station wagon into the garage every night. Farm life's pretty great, isn't it?

Kyle: Graham?

Graham: Yeah?

Kyle: I just went down to the barn. You didn't wash Woody today.

Graham: Oh, yeah. I forgot.

Kyle: Now, you know, when I was a kid, I took the fair very seriously. The week of the fair, I spent every waking moment getting that pig ready. And you know why? Because it's not just a contest. The fair is big business.

Graham: I know.

Kyle: A state winner can auction off for as much as $6,000. That's a lot of money. But it's more than that. Competing in the fair taught me important things like responsibility and the discipline of farm life.

Graham: Yes, sir.

Kyle: Graham, I thought we agreed when I got you this computer that it came second behind your chores on the farm.

Graham: I did all my regular chores!

Kyle: Now, I'm not talking about your regular chores. I'm talking about getting ready for the fair. We're counting on you. You've got the best pig out there. Now, come on.

Graham: Can I just finish up this program?

Kyle: The computer will wait. The fair is this weekend.

Graham: Yes, sir. Pigs, fair, I'm sick of it. I've got to get out of here. Wait a minute.

Graham: Eugene?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes?

Graham: Look, I need to ask you a question. But you have to promise not to tell anyone that I asked you this.

Eugene Meltsner: If my silence does not in any way endanger your safety, I shall not tell.

Graham: Well, all right. Would you take me with you to San Diego?

Eugene Meltsner: I beg your pardon? You want to go to San Diego?

Graham: Well, sure. You guys can take me along, then drop me off on your way back through here.

Eugene Meltsner: I'm sorry, Graham, but I can't. At best, it's an impractical idea.

Graham: Give me one good reason why.

Eugene Meltsner: I can give you several. First, we cannot take responsibility for a 13-year-old on a 3,000-mile excursion. Second, we will not be a party to kidnapping, a federal offense, since you are obviously intending not to tell your parents of your whereabouts. There are at least ten more reasons, but it is a moot point to even mention them. I'm sorry, Graham, but my answer remains no.

Graham: I can't believe this! Come on, you've got to get me out of this place!

Eugene Meltsner: We all become dissatisfied with our homes at times.

Graham: Well, that's easy for you to say. You live in a fun city. Look where I have to live. I want to go to Disneyland. I want to go to the beach. You know, I've never even seen a beach.

Eugene Meltsner: Graham, I understand your need to experience the rest of the world. I too had similar feelings when...

Graham: I don't want to experience the rest of the world. I want to go to San Diego. Now, come on, take me!

Eugene Meltsner: I'm sorry, no.

Graham: Fine, just forget I asked. Thanks a lot.

Kyle: Morning, Bernard. You want some coffee?

Bernard Walton: No, thanks. Any progress on the truck?

Kyle: I finally got all the parts. I had an awful time finding them. Such a pain to get parts being this out of the way.

Bernard Walton: Oh, yeah, I understand.

Kyle: Should be finished day after tomorrow.

Bernard Walton: Well, I'm in no hurry. It's a nice place you got here.

Kyle: Yeah, been in my family for a hundred years.

Sam: Kyle! There's a police car coming up the driveway.

Kyle: Oh, must be Jerry Kellogg. Wonder what he wants.

Sam: Look in the back seat! It's Graham!

Jerry Kellogg: Come on out, Graham.

Kyle: Jerry, what's going on?

Jerry Kellogg: I found your son on Route 24. He was driving your station wagon.

Kyle: What? Driving? Graham, what were you doing driving my station wagon?

Jerry Kellogg: He hasn't said much since we picked him up. Graham, why don't you tell him what was in the back seat?

Kyle: The back seat? Tell him, Graham. What was it?

Graham: I don't know.

Jerry Kellogg: It was a pig.

Kyle: A pig? He was carrying a pig in the back seat?

Jerry Kellogg: Yep. Pulled up beside your station wagon and saw a four-foot, five-inch kid trying to see over the dashboard and a pig's snout sticking out the back window.

Kyle: Graham, what's this all about?

Carrie: What's happening?

Kyle: Nothing, honey. Everything's fine.

Carrie: Is Graham going to jail?

Kyle: No, he's not going to jail.

Carrie: Is he in big trouble?

Kyle: Sam, take Carrie inside, please.

Carrie: I want to watch!

Sam: Come on, Carrie.

Kyle: Bernard, would you join us?

Bernard Walton: Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.

Jerry Kellogg: Well, I'll be on my way too.

Kyle: All right. Thanks, Jerry. I'm sorry about this.

Jerry Kellogg: I'll see you.

Kyle: So, what do you think you were doing?

Graham: I don't know.

Kyle: What's gotten into you? You could have been hurt. And what were you going to do with Woody?

Graham: I don't know.

Kyle: You're lying to me. You were going down Route 24 with a pig in the back seat. Now, tell me right now, what were you doing?

Graham: Just taking him for a ride.

Kyle: Uh-huh, stop it. Now tell me.

Graham: I was going to sell him.

Kyle: What?

Graham: I was going to try to sell him. I heard that this farmer in Martinsburg pays top dollar, and I thought I'd surprise you.

Kyle: Oh, you can get 30 times more if you place in the state fair! You know that! Now, you better start telling the truth right now, or you are going to be in big trouble.

Graham: I was trying to make some money.

Kyle: For what?

Graham: I was going to buy a bus ticket and go to California for a while.

Kyle: What? Don't be crazy! You're 13 years old!

Graham: I want out! I can't stand it here! I can't stay here any longer, and I'm not going to stay here for the rest of my life and take over your garage!

Kyle: Graham!

Graham: I hate farming and I hate cars!

Kyle: I don't care what you hate! You will not talk to me that way! Get upstairs to your room. You are grounded until further notice.

Chris: It's hard to trust a lot of entertainment these days, but you can always trust Adventures in Odyssey. Every episode is packed with biblical truth your kids will understand and hang on to. Join the Adventures in Odyssey Club today at adventuresinodyssey.com.

Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY, with a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.

Kyle: Uh, could you hand me that wrench?

Bernard Walton: Yeah, here you are.

Kyle: Thanks. Can you believe him, Bernard? Honestly, stealing my car. I should ground him for the next 10 years, 20 maybe.

Bernard Walton: 20? You think I'm overreacting?

Kyle: Well, the kid did a bad thing, and he deserves what he got. But I wonder if this is about more than just stealing a car.

Bernard Walton: What do you mean?

Kyle: I mean, your son just risked his life trying to leave home. Just makes me wonder why.

Kyle: Oh, I know why. He's just all starry-eyed thinking he can be in the movies or something. You can't do that in Iowa, now can you?

Bernard Walton: Well, I never heard him say anything about the movies. I just thought he didn't want to take over the shop from you.

Kyle: He has no choice about that.

Bernard Walton: Doesn't he?

Kyle: I just don't understand him. He used to love working with me when he was little. Now, all he cares about is computers. I have to pull him by his ears to help me in the garage.

Bernard Walton: Why is it so important that he help you in the garage?

Kyle: How else is he going to run it? Oh, look, it's been in my family for 50 years. My dad and I, we used to work in here for hours at a time.

When we weren't working on cars, we were talking about them. That's the one thing we had in common. We could always talk about cars, even when we didn't have anything else to talk about.

Bernard Walton: And you can't talk about cars with Graham.

Kyle: Used to, but now...

Bernard Walton: Well, have you ever tried talking with him about his computer?

Kyle: Oh, I wouldn't even know what to ask him.

Bernard Walton: Kyle, your son doesn't want to be a mechanic. I think you may need to try something else.

Eugene Meltsner: Graham?

Graham: Yeah.

Eugene Meltsner: May I come in?

Graham: Sure.

Eugene Meltsner: Mind if we take a few moments to converse?

Graham: Are you on his side?

Eugene Meltsner: I would state my position as entirely neutral, although I do wonder why you have not communicated with your father more effectively before now.

Graham: Well, how can I? He never listens to me. He just makes me do stuff that I don't want to do. Never even asks me what I want to do.

Eugene Meltsner: I think you've made that perfectly clear. You want to leave Iowa.

Graham: Yeah, and I'm going to do it too. I'm really leaning towards San Diego.

Eugene Meltsner: Of course you won't have any friends there. You'll have to do your own grocery shopping. Home-grown vegetables will be harder to find. You won't have your mom to help you with your homework or your father to pick you up at school. But you won't have to worry about school, will you, since you'll be washing dishes full-time?

Graham: Are you trying to scare me?

Eugene Meltsner: It merely occurred to me that you may not have realized what the disadvantages were.

Graham: Yeah, well, there's one big advantage to leaving. I won't have to wrestle with my dad about the shop anymore.

Eugene Meltsner: Does he know of your compelling inclination toward computers?

Graham: Yeah, he knows. But he doesn't like them. He doesn't even try to like them. He thinks they're useless. You see, that's the thing. In San Diego, everything is computers. I'd be accepted there because everybody uses them.

Eugene Meltsner: Whereas you feel that you're not accepted here?

Graham: Well, I'm accepted as long as I do work in the garage, not on computers.

Eugene Meltsner: Because your father believes they're useless?

Graham: Yeah, and I guess until computers can help him fix cars, he'll always think that way.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, perhaps, but wait a minute.

Graham: What is it?

Eugene Meltsner: I think I may have an idea. May I see your computer?

Graham: Sure.

Eugene Meltsner: Morning, Kyle. How's it coming?

Kyle: Well, looks like I'll be finished in a couple hours. If you want, you can be on your way this afternoon.

Bernard Walton: Well, that sounds great. But we kind had our heart set on seeing the fair.

Kyle: I was hoping you'd say that.

Graham: Dad?

Kyle: What are you doing in here? You're still on restriction.

Graham: Mom said I could come down for one second just to give you this.

Kyle: What is it?

Eugene Meltsner: Okay, Eugene. Here you are, though I must protest the rustic mode of transport for this finely tuned instrument.

Kyle: A computer in a wheelbarrow? What are you going to do, pitch it?

Graham: Eugene and I made you something last night.

Kyle: For me? On a computer? Now son, you know I don't know anything about...

Graham: Please, Dad!

Kyle: Ah, go ahead. Show me.

Graham: Set it up, Eugene.

Eugene Meltsner: Very well.

Graham: Eugene and I were thinking last night about ways we could maybe help your business.

Kyle: Now, if you think I'm going to start using that thing in this garage...

Graham: Could you just try it?

Kyle: I'm doing just fine without it. Now, get back to your room.

Bernard Walton: Kyle, let's at least see what he did.

Kyle: Well, all right. Go ahead.

Graham: Okay, you know how you have to call all sorts of places and find parts for cars?

Kyle: Yeah, so?

Graham: Well, we came up with an easier way to do it, so you wouldn't have to make so many calls.

Kyle: Yeah? Like how?

Graham: We hooked up a phone line to the computer and contacted a bunch of car parts places. All you have to do is type in the name of the part, and it lists all the places that have it.

Kyle: Really?

Graham: Yeah. You see, this could save a lot of time.

Eugene Meltsner: And money.

Graham: Oh yeah, and money, because you won't be making all those long-distance phone calls. The computer does it for you, and faster. Anyway, here it is if you want to use it. We programmed it so you can figure it out yourself. Just follow the steps. I'll just leave it on your desk. I'll be in my room.

Eugene Meltsner: And I'll be off as well.

Bernard Walton: So, what do you think?

Kyle: I don't know. I don't really trust those things.

Bernard Walton: Well, it's just an observation, but I think your son's doing his best to patch things up. What are you doing?

Kyle: Graham! He's got to show me how to turn it on.

Bernard Walton: Good thing. I was afraid you were going to ask me.

Bernard Walton: Well, what do you think?

Eugene Meltsner: It's not like any fair I've ever seen. The giant pruning shears were quite a feat of engineering. Three stories high.

Bernard Walton: Yeah, they kind of take visitors by surprise at first.

Eugene Meltsner: And the pruning shear necklace with the flashing lights are great. Wonder if the wife likes it?

Kyle: Yeah, but before you buy anything, ask me first. There's always people out there trying to rip you off by selling you imitation graphite shears.

Graham: Mom, Dad, Woody's coming up! They're going to show Woody! He's fourth in line!

Kyle: All right, let's go. Okay, I'll be right there.

Graham: Look, Dad! Baseball cards! They got baseball cards this year!

Kyle: You like baseball cards?

Graham: Can I go?

Kyle: Sure, son.

Graham: Cool!

Kyle: My son likes baseball cards. I never knew that.

Bernard Walton: Keep your eyes open, Kyle. You might learn a lot about your son.

Kyle: Yeah, I think you're right. Hey, wait up!

Bernard Walton: Well, Eugene, you want to go watch a pig? Or does that fail to stimulate you intellectually?

Eugene Meltsner: Actually, I would enjoy a good pig watch.

Bernard Walton: Eugene, there is hope for you yet.

Chris: There are a lot of times when we think we want what someone else has. We want to live in a better place or have more exciting toys or be able to do more interesting things. If we ever feel unhappy, we should think of what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. No matter how much we may not like it at the time, God has a special purpose for us wherever we are, and we should be thankful for that.

Well, that's all for today. If you ever want to write to us, just send your letter to Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. In Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 4G3. And don't forget to ask how you can get your own copy of today's episode. It's called "Second Thoughts."

That address once again is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Adventures in Odyssey is a production of Focus on the Family. "Second Thoughts" was written by Marshal Younger and directed by Paul McCusker. Our production engineer was Mark Drury, and our executive producer, Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.