Paws & Tales

Ned the Beaver: Welcome to another episode of my personal podcast, Ned Knows. Today I'm talking to the creator of Paws & Tales, Dave Carl. Well, thanks for being with me today, Dave.

Dave Carl: It's a pleasure to be here, Ned.

Ned the Beaver: So, because I'm me, I happen to know that you have written the first-ever Paws & Tales book. Tell me more about that.

Dave Carl: I'd love to. It's called The Overcomers, and reading this book will be like reading maybe five regular episodes. The club is in the middle of a big new adventure and there are new characters introduced.

Ned the Beaver: That's fascinating, Dave. I have it though, by good authority, that this book centers around Ned and how he saves the day for everyone.

Dave Carl: Well, no, that's not what the book is about. It is significantly about the struggle against evil that lurks high up in Wild Mountain. If anything, I'd have to say it centers around Stacy.

Ned the Beaver: What? I gave you really good notes when you were writing this. What happened to all my great ideas?

Dave Carl: Well, mostly I didn't read them. There were a lot of notes, Ned. In the book I did write, we meet Smidge, a badger who really wants to become someone who will make a difference. And he meets up with Crockett, a genuine overcomer who begins to teach him how to survive in the woods and how to take care of the miners digging for gold in the tunnels of Wild Mountain.

Ned the Beaver: Ned knows what this book was supposed to be about. In those notes you did not read, Ned inherits a million dollars but he does not let anyone know about it. And he sneaks around and secretly helps those in need and uses all kinds of really neat gadgets to fight crime.

Dave Carl: I did read that part of the notes, but in this first Paws & Tales book, The Overcomers, we follow the club as they begin a new adventure and we see how Smidge and Crockett battle bandits and the evil Minion in only the way an overcomer can.

Ned the Beaver: Well, I did not know that you changed the whole book, Dave. This is a bitter disappointment. Well, this ends this episode of Ned Knows. Thanks for joining me, Dave Carl, who ignored all my notes. I'll see you all next time for another episode of Ned Knows. Stop the tape.

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

Goose: CJ! CJ! Wait for us!

Stacy: Where are you headed to, CJ?

CJ: The port.

Stacy: Can we come with you?

CJ: Sure.

Goose: What's your hurry?

CJ: I want to see if Gus's ship is in the port. He didn't sign up for the dinner.

Stacy: I know.

Goose: They're going to serve cherry pie for dessert. Cherry pie! I don't think I will be able to sleep at all tonight.

Stacy: Cherry pie and peach cobbler. My mom said she and Mrs. Merryweather are both making peach cobbler. I can't wait.

Goose: Tomorrow night seems so far away. Like a distant land that our mortal bodies may never touch, no matter how diligently we try to reach it. Or like a moonbeam that dances across a deep pool of lace of our grass. Doesn't it, CJ?

CJ: No, not really.

Stacy: What's the matter? You don't want to serve at the retirement home?

CJ: I don't know.

Goose: If we volunteer to serve dinner, we get to eat dinner. And if we eat dinner, then we get to eat dessert. I love dessert almost as much as I love dinner. Or maybe I love dinner more.

Stacy: I think you're missing the point. We serve dinner, we talk to the old folks, they tell us stories.

Goose: We make friends. And I love friends almost as much as I love dinner. No, I love dessert almost as much as I love—this is getting complicated.

Stacy: Some of the senior citizens don't get visitors at all. I think that this friendship dinner is a great idea.

CJ: I think that I might have plans.

Stacy: You do not.

CJ: I could if I wanted to.

Stacy: Yeah, third-graders always have big plans on Saturday night. CJ, I would think that you out of all of us wouldn't want these folks to be lonely.

CJ: You don't understand, Stacy. There'll be plenty of people there to keep them company.

Goose: Gus! Where are you running to?

CJ: The ship is in! Look, it's Gus. He sailed in last night. Gus! Gus! I just love it when he's home.

Stacy: He's looking kind of old.

CJ: He's not so old. Look at that ship. Just think of the places it's taken Gus to.

Goose: Hey, Captain Gus!

Captain Gus: Well, I'll be. If you haven't grown like a string of seaweed, boy. I hardly even recognized you.

CJ: When did you sail in?

Captain Gus: Well, I brought her in at 1700 last night.

CJ: You're a day late.

Captain Gus: A day late, you say? I've been out to sea for nine months and you complain that I'm a day late? I ought to throw you to the sharks.

CJ: Gus, you remember my friends Stacy and Goose?

Captain Gus: Yes, I don't think I could forget such lovely little lassies. Nice to see you too.

Goose: Oh, stop it, some more.

CJ: Nine months at sea. Wow, where'd you sail to?

Captain Gus: Well, this time it was the South Seas.

CJ: Gus has been all over the world and he has the most amazing stories.

Stacy: Okay, CJ.

Captain Gus: I don't know if I'd call them amazing.

Goose: Oh, Captain Gus, tell us some more adventures. Please, please.

Stacy: Oh yeah, please.

Captain Gus: Well, let's see. If we can find old Gus some shade, I might just be able to recall the time that I was shipwrecked off the coast of a deserted island that I've since named Baboon Lagoon.

Goose: All right!

Stacy: Is it going to be scary?

Captain Gus: Well, it was for me when it happened, of course.

Goose: I love them when they're scary.

Insight for Living: Well, those kids found a nice piece of shade for old Gus, and he proceeded to fascinate them with true tales of his high-sea adventures. Now, Gus has always trusted God. In fact, Gus always credits the Lord with his protection in whatever predicament he's been in.

Captain Gus: I fell, sliding down the cliff face headed for the jagged rocks below. Thought that I was a goner for sure.

Goose: I'm scared.

Captain Gus: But I slid onto the smallest little bit of shrub that I grabbed hold of and it stopped me from sliding off the cliff to my sure death.

Goose: Wow, you lived. You lived!

Captain Gus: As a matter of fact, I did. That little shrub, I believe, had been planted there by the hand of God himself. He knew one day I'd need it to keep me from the most violent of deaths. Now then, I was alive, but with no food fit for man or beast. I was left with the food that I could find. Not the sort you'd ever partake of unless your imminent death was staring you in the face. It was a banquet of grubs and beetles and some unnamed worm as big around as my thumb and as long as my arm.

Insight for Living: It's been almost 50 years now since Gus first sailed, and with all of the solitary time away from others, he's learned a great deal about hearing what God has to say, and he's developed quite a knack for storytelling.

Captain Gus: That, my hearties, is how I managed to stay alive for 27 days without any man-made supplies.

Stacy: All I can say is wow.

Goose: I will never look at earthworms the same way again.

Stacy: Or beetles.

Captain Gus: The fatter the better. That's the way I like them. Oh, looks like it's coming up on supper time, doesn't it?

Goose: Strangely enough, I'm not very hungry.

CJ: I got to get home. It's good to have you back, Gus.

Stacy: Thanks, Gus.

Goose: Yeah, thank you, Captain Gus.

CJ: I'll come to see you sometime tomorrow, Gus.

Captain Gus: All right. Goodbye, kids.

CJ: And he almost fell to his death.

Guest (Male): I saw Gus in town today too, buying a bunch of furniture. Looked like he was furnishing a new captain's quarters.

CJ: He told us about one time he survived on a desert island for 27 days by eating gross worms and lots of beetles.

Guest (Female): Not at the dinner table, please, CJ.

CJ: Yes, ma'am. He's got the best stories.

Guest (Male): I didn't get the chance to talk to him. He seemed like a wolf on a mission. It sure is good to see old Gus again.

CJ: He's not that old, Dad. I don't know why everyone keeps saying that.

Guest (Female): CJ, your father and I can't be at the friendship dinner tomorrow night.

CJ: Really?

Guest (Female): We already had plans with the Pickwicks. Stacy's parents said that you could come home with them after the dinner. We'll come by and get you there on the way home.

CJ: Okay, Mom. I'll go home with Stacy.

Guest (Female): Good.

Guest (Male): Theo?

Guest (Female): Yeah? I was thinking that I might have time to make a salad for that dinner. Are there any tomatoes in the garden?

Guest (Male): Yeah, big beefsteak tomatoes. But one had been nibbled on by a caterpillar. A pretty juicy-looking little fellow. Oh, I'll bet Gus would have loved him.

Guest (Female): I think the friendship dinner is such a nice idea. It's wonderful that Miss Harbor wants the children to be the servers.

CJ: Yeah. Mom, can I get some more milk?

Guest (Female): Of course.

CJ: I got to get out of this.

Ned the Beaver: Welcome everyone, Ned the Beaver here, beloved star of Paws & Tales. We have some parents with me today that would love to tell you what they think about the fun, the biblical teaching, and the music of Paws & Tales. Go right ahead, sir.

Guest (Male): I love that some of the episodes are telling the biblical story. My kids totally know the story of Esther now because of Paws & Tales.

Ned the Beaver: I love that. Now, don't miss an episode of Paws & Tales right here on this amazing station.

Insight for Living: The next afternoon CJ finds himself kicking around town, not quite sure what to do with himself. He did pray about taking part in the retirement home dinner but didn't like what God was seeming to tell him. CJ's a good one, he's usually quite obliging and willing to lend a hand, but this time he didn't, just didn't want to budge. So there he was, moping around with a big old bowl of green salad in his hands.

CJ: Hey, Gus.

Captain Gus: Well, hello, CJ. What brings you down here this afternoon?

CJ: Nothing much. You got a lot of stuff. You need help?

Captain Gus: Well, sure, but you seem to have your hands full. What's that for?

CJ: It's for the dinner at the retirement home. It's not heavy and I got a free hand.

Captain Gus: Well, if you're sure, you could take that lamp over there. Careful, it's light but it's breakable.

CJ: What do you need a lamp for? You don't have electricity on the ship.

Captain Gus: No, I don't. But this is slipping. You know, 20 years ago I could have balanced all this on the end of my nose. It's the price of getting old, I guess.

CJ: The sea air keeps you young, Gus. I've heard you say that yourself.

Captain Gus: I said the sea air makes you feel young, CJ. See, there's a big difference there. But you know, there is something about the saltwater mist just fills me right up. But we can't stop this body from getting old. So CJ, you're going to the dinner tonight, are you?

CJ: Well, my mom made this salad and I'm supposed to drop it off. Where are you taking that stuff?

Captain Gus: Well, I ran out of steam, CJ. Let's set this stuff on the bench. So, I want you to tell me what's eating you up.

CJ: What do you mean?

Captain Gus: Well, I've been around a long time, CJ, and I know when a fellow has something heavy on his mind.

CJ: Well, I do have something on my mind.

Captain Gus: Well, come on, boy, spill it.

CJ: Okay, here goes. Some people are expecting me to do something. Something that they say is a good thing to do. And I guess it really is a good thing to do, but I don't really want to do it.

Captain Gus: Any idea what God wants on this, huh?

CJ: Maybe, but I'm not sure.

Captain Gus: You know, CJ, when God wants you to do something, he'll pretty much let you know. He'll put friends and family and scripture and sometimes perfect strangers in your path to make his will known to you.

CJ: What if you don't agree with everyone?

Captain Gus: Everyone? Does that include God?

CJ: Well, yeah, I guess.

Captain Gus: You know, not agreeing with God, huh? You know, that's asking for calamity of the greatest order.

There's a story in the Bible about Jonah. There was this sailor working his first mate on a cargo ship carrying silks and spices from distant port to distant port. Now, every once in a while, they took on passengers for a small fee who didn't mind the cramped and uncomfortable accommodations, if you will.

There came aboard one fine day this skittish little fellow. Didn't look at anybody, didn't say a word to anyone, but he got on that ship and went straight down to the cargo hold and fell right asleep. Well, the crew didn't think much of their new passenger and they went right on preparing to sail. The ship soon took off in beautiful weather. But it didn't last for long.

Guest (Male): Captain! Captain! Stormy skies ahead. They came out of nowhere.

Guest (Male): Aye, she looks like a bloody big one. Call the crew and prepare for a bumpy ride.

Guest (Male): Aye, yes, sir. Once, Captain. Hey, crew! Prepare for a big one. Every man to his post. Make haste!

Captain Gus: The crew, they did everything within their power to manage the storm, but it became more and more powerful. As that storm got closer, the ship started to toss wildly and took on water.

Guest (Male): Captain, sir. We're taking on water faster than we can bail it out.

Guest (Male): This is an angry glass, this one. Start throwing unnecessary supplies overboard off the port bow. Keep only what is necessary. Go on! Move!

Guest (Male): Aye, sir!

Captain Gus: The crew, they were crazy, started throwing boxes and more boxes into the angry sea. But the ship just kept taking on water. And it was being tossed on the massive waves like a little tiny toy boat. Preparing for a disaster, one crew member went down to the hold where he woke up this mysterious passenger who'd fallen asleep among all the crates.

Guest (Male): Captain! Captain!

Guest (Male): Back to your post, McGregor! Keep tossing the cargo overboard.

Guest (Male): There is no cargo left to throw over, sir. But if you'll just listen, something extraordinary has happened.

Guest (Male): What, man?

Guest (Male): Jenkins went down to the hold to warn our passenger of the danger we're in.

Guest (Male): Is that it?

Guest (Male): No, sir. No, sir. Our passenger, sir. It turns out that our passenger is a man of God.

Guest (Male): Is he, very good. But what can he do, man? Can he pray a pretty prayer and make all this cease?

Guest (Male): Well, no, not exactly, sir.

Guest (Male): God's fish, McGregor. I'm in imminent danger of losing this ship and all souls aboard. What is it?

Guest (Male): Captain, our passenger wants us to throw him overboard.

Guest (Male): God's bobs, hammer and tongs! Throw Jenkins overboard? Is he mad?

Guest (Male): No, sir. No, sir. Not Jenkins, the passenger wants his own self to be tossed overboard.

Guest (Male): His own self? How can that be?

Guest (Male): It is true, sir. True. He claims that he is directly at fault for this storm.

Guest (Male): Are you saying that one man is responsible for this incredible force that should all have us underwater in a quarter of an hour's time?

Guest (Male): Aye, sir. He claims that he's running from God.

Guest (Male): Running from God, eh? That's what he says.

Guest (Male): That's what he says, Captain. He's running from God.

Guest (Male): Aye, and God has surely found him.

Guest (Male): Captain, but what shall we do? Captain!

Guest (Male): Do as he wishes. God will not cease to gain a man's attention when he wills it. Bring the passenger above deck. May God have mercy on his soul.

Captain Gus: So, the crew, eager to stop the deadly storm in its tracks, tossed the wayward passenger overboard and prayed for the best. He was swiftly swallowed whole by a huge fish.

CJ: I listen to you. You know this story, do you?

CJ: I've heard the story of Jonah a bunch, but I like the way you tell it.

Captain Gus: Well, let me ask you something. What do you think about what happened to Jonah in that big fish?

CJ: That he survived three days inside of it?

Captain Gus: Well, that's true he did, but you can't forget the fact that Jonah finally did what God asked of him.

CJ: I think he learned his lesson, but I don't think that God makes fish swallow people anymore.

Captain Gus: Oh, you don't think God's big enough to work a miracle like that today, huh?

CJ: I think he's plenty big, but he seems to have been harder on people back then. Nowadays he doesn't have to work so hard to get his point across.

Captain Gus: Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that, CJ. I think we have just about the same hard-headedness as they did way back when. Well, look at that. The sunlight's starting to fade. I better get to going.

CJ: How long are you staying in town, Gus?

Captain Gus: Long time. As long as the Lord wills it. You know, I can handle these packages by myself, CJ. I certainly do appreciate your help, though. Why don't you go on and get that salad over to the dinner because it's getting late.

CJ: Well, I guess. See you, Gus.

CJ: Oh man, it smells like a hospital. I hate that. It's just like when Grandma—

Stacy: CJ, I didn't think you'd come. Good for you.

CJ: Yeah, I'm here. Anyone can see that I'm here. Here I am standing here, and no one can say that I wasn't here.

Stacy: Okay, let's go inside and find Miss Harbor. She'll tell you where to go and—

CJ: No. No, I'm not going in yet. I'm waiting for something, someone not here yet but will be soon. Don't worry about me, just go on in. Bye.

Stacy: If you're waiting for Goose, she's already inside.

CJ: I'll be in, in a little bit.

Stacy: Okay, fine. See you later.

CJ: Stacy.

Stacy: What is it?

CJ: Take the salad in for me, please?

Stacy: Fine.

CJ: Thanks. I'll be in later.

CJ: Okay, I got to get out of here.

Insight for Living: Well, CJ got himself in such a nervous state that he was willing to be rude to the good folks around him and dishonest to his own folks. He sneaked around back, and just as he was about to dart off towards the school swingset—

CJ: Oh! Oh! Where am I? I can't see a thing. What is this place? I got to get out of here. Help! Help! Somebody!

Ned the Beaver: Hey there everyone, Dave Carl here. We want to put your kid on an episode of Paws & Tales with the question: If I could spend a day with—fill in your favorite Paws & Tales character—I'd want to—and we have some suggestions on the clubhouse wall or you can make up your own.

Make them short, but make them fun and have them refer back to an episode. Maybe something like this: Hi, I'm Henry from North Carolina. If I could spend a day with CJ, I'd want to build a treehouse together. We can't wait to hear what you all come up with. Send them in and we'll broadcast them to the world. Joel, I was hoping for some echo there. To the world! Joel, come on, man. Real cute, Joel. Real cute.

Insight for Living: CJ's in a dark and frightening predicament. It's pitch black in there, and although it's only been a short while, CJ's lost all track of time, and to him, it seemed like hours.

CJ: So cold. Get a hold of yourself, CJ. Need to come up with a plan. Plan number one is to get out of here.

Insight for Living: CJ has done all the exploring he could in pitch dark, and for the life of him he just could not figure out where he was, let alone how to get out.

CJ: I'm just like Jonah. I ran like Jonah. God had the ground swallow me up. He does still do big things like he did in the Bible.

Insight for Living: Although it took longer than it should have, CJ finally decided it was time to do some praying.

CJ: Okay, plan number two. Ask God for forgiveness and leave the rest up to him. Dear Father, I'm sorry I wouldn't do what I knew I should have. I just didn't want to go into that place and I'm a little scared of that old badger who takes out her teeth and holds them in her hand and tries to bite the nurses. I'll do whatever you want me to from now on. Forgive me, and I promise to visit a lot at the retirement home when you get me out of here.

Goose: Stacy! Stacy! A badger just chased me all over the parlor with false teeth in her hand.

Stacy: She what?

Goose: I got to get a pair of those. This place is very fun. I wonder where CJ is. Have you seen him, Goose?

Goose: No, haven't seen him at all. Hey, there's Captain Gus. I bet he knows where CJ is. Captain Gus!

Captain Gus: Hey there, little lassie.

Goose: Have you seen CJ? We were expecting him to serve dinner with us.

Captain Gus: No, I haven't seen him for about an hour, I guess.

Stacy: I got to go get more sugar for the coffee.

Captain Gus: I'll get it for you. I've been down to the cellar earlier today and I know my way around pretty well. I'll get it and be back before you know it.

Bags and bags of beans. Flour. CJ! CJ! CJ, what are you doing?

CJ: Gus? How'd you find me?

Captain Gus: Well, I looked behind the beans and flour, I guess.

CJ: Where are we?

Captain Gus: We're in the pantry.

CJ: Of the retirement home?

Captain Gus: Look at you. You look like you fell or something. Are you okay?

CJ: Wow, I didn't know where I was. I fell asleep and then God sent you to find me.

Captain Gus: Whoa, whoa, whoa there, CJ. Look up there, huh? Why, I think you fell right through the old storm door.

CJ: Aren't there usually stairs to the storm door?

Captain Gus: Well, maybe they took them out making room for the beans. In the dark, I'm not sure if I could have found my way out of here either.

CJ: I was just like Jonah, Gus. God does do big things still. I thought I was goners.

Captain Gus: What were you running from?

CJ: Upstairs, the retirement home.

Captain Gus: What's so, what's so bad about the retirement home?

CJ: Well, my Grandma Margie, she died in a place like this. It kind of gets me all uncomfortable, kind of nervous.

Captain Gus: Yeah, I can understand that, but CJ you got to know that the folks that live here can get real lonely. These folks need visitors.

CJ: Me and God, we got it all set. I'll do it. I think he made it pretty clear. Half the night in the bowels of the cellar will—

Captain Gus: Half the night? Try 20 minutes in the pantry.

CJ: 20 minutes?

Captain Gus: Okay, maybe a half an hour, maybe. I'm just glad to see you came around, CJ. You know, I'd have been real perturbed if you wouldn't come and visit with me.

CJ: Here?

Captain Gus: Yeah, here.

CJ: You're moving in here?

Captain Gus: Moving in? I've been here almost two days. Where you been, boy? My seafaring days are over, CJ, I got to admit. I listened to God and he made it clear that I needed to settle down on dry land. I can't say I was happy with it to tell you the truth, but I know from experience that he's got my best in mind. I sold the ship and I'll live here as long as God wills.

CJ: I had no idea, Gus.

Captain Gus: Hey, you ready for some dinner serving, huh?

CJ: Yes, sir, Captain. I am.

CJ: Here you go, Mr. Ripple. I hope that you're enjoying yourself.

Stacy: CJ, I've been looking everywhere for you. Where were you?

CJ: Just helping Gus.

Stacy: Well, grab a ladle, CJ. We need help with this soup.

CJ: I'm your cub, Stace. Gus, may I interest you in some corn chowder?

Captain Gus: Oh, that does sound delicious, doesn't it, CJ? I'd love some.

Goose: I'm going to get you, Mrs. Nesbitt!

Guest (Female): Not the teeth! Not the teeth!

Stacy: Don't even ask.

Musical Finale: I've never met a sailorman who hadn't heard the tale

Of how the lad named Jonah decided to set sail

He tried to go off-course from the way that God had wished

But changed his mind in record time inside that great big fish

So hoist the sails and feel the wind blow

We're going the direction God is asking us to go

And who is at the helm? The Lord, he'll never steer us wrong

If we go where he leads, we'll always be where we belong

There's nothing like the high seas!

Not that sea!

Inside that fish's belly, Jonah didn't feel so well

He couldn't stand the guilt and he couldn't stand the smell

He learned God's way's best and that's still true for us today

And if God directs, we'll swab the deck and sail on, lead the way

So hoist the sails and feel the wind blow

We're going the direction God is asking us to go

And who is at the helm? The Lord, he'll never steer us wrong

If we go where he leads, we'll always be where we belong

First mate, what are you at the bridge?

Aye, sir!

God doesn't promise us smooth sailing

But he told us he would always be on board

So we'll trust him and his word to be our compass here on earth

Till the day that we pull in to heaven shores!

Hoist the sails and feel the wind blow!

We're going the direction God is asking us to go!

Aye, aye, sir!

And he's at the helm! The Lord, he'll never steer us wrong!

If we go where he leads, we'll always be where we belong!

If we go where he leads, we'll always be where we belong!

Aye, aye!

Insight for Living: To order a copy of today's program, Hold the Anchovies, log on to pawsandtales.org. Hold the Anchovies was written by Amy Robertson and directed by David Carl. Our script supervisor was Phil Lollar. The Sailing Song was written by Sandy Howell and Matt McGuire. Music was by Tim Hosman and our sound designer was Eric Basil. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.