Paws & Tales

Ned the Beaver: Hi, this is Ned the Beaver, beloved star of Paws & Tales. Deep in the basement of the world headquarters of Paws & Tales, the creative team has developed some really amazing coloring sheets. But mine is the best! It's...

Dave Carl: Hey Ned, ready to start recording?

Ned the Beaver: Oh! Hi, Dave Carl, creator of Paws & Tales.

Dave Carl: I was thinking on these spots today. We want to be sure to tell folks about the new character coloring sheets available on our webpage. The kids can color in a bunch of the Paws & Tales characters, and they're based on episodes of the podcast. It's a free download for everyone in the whole world. We're pretty excited about it.

Ned the Beaver: I had a vision for the spot today, but yes, I'm happy to overload that all in somehow.

Dave Carl: That web address is pawsandtales.org/stacy.

Ned the Beaver: Stacy? Oh, thank you, Joel. This is not what I envisioned for this commercial, people. Take five, everyone, take five!

Narrator: 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.

Stacy: Come on, CJ, jump!

CJ: It's too far!

Stacy: It wasn't too far for me!

Insight for Living: Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Narrator: Howdy and welcome to Wildwood. It's a record-breaking day today. It hasn't been this hot for better than 10 years. With this kind of weather, all anyone can think of is how to get out of it.

CJ: This is desert hot.

Stacy: This is barbecue hot.

CJ: The shade is hot. We've got to get out of this hotness.

Stacy: It would be cooler on the equator.

CJ: It would be cooler in an oven.

Stacy: It would be cooler in Mrs. Collins' basement.

CJ: It would be cooler in a volcano.

Stacy: It would be cooler in Mrs. Collins' basement.

CJ: You said that. It would be cooler on the surface of the sun. Hey, it would be cooler in Mrs. Collins' basement.

Stacy: That's brilliant. We should go there.

CJ: To Mrs. Collins' basement.

Stacy: Yeah, it would be cooler there.

CJ: I love that idea.

Narrator: As the two cubs dragged themselves off to Mrs. Collins' basement seeking relief from the heat, Timothy Owl, who had been listening in, was getting all panicky at the very idea.

Timothy Owl: Oh, no. This could be it. I need to get some help. No, that would take too long. By the time I get back, they could have found the machine already. And if they find the machine, they could find... Oh, if I follow them alone, I may not be able to stop them. Not the basement! What should I do? I'd better follow.

Narrator: Well, the cubs made their way through the heat to the Collins' mansion. As always, Mrs. Collins was pleased as punch to have them over. While Mrs. Collins and Stacy were off making a pitcher of iced tea and some snacks, CJ wandered down into the basement with an oil lantern to light his way.

Mrs. Collins explained that that part of the house is so rarely used. The lights might work, or then again, they might not. She gave him a lighted lantern just in case. CJ climbed down the stairs and into the cooler air and closer to the very thing that Timothy Owl feared most.

CJ: Oh, yeah. This is much better. The farther down I get, the cooler it gets.

Timothy Owl: Hey there, son.

CJ: What are you doing here?

Timothy Owl: If you really want to cool off, I know just the place. It's on the other side of this...

CJ: How did you get down here? What are you doing?

Timothy Owl: Doing? What am I doing? Hunting rats! I followed one down here. Open window, you know? Mice are okay, but when I get a rat, now that's a meal.

CJ: Okay, that is really disgusting.

Timothy Owl: Now if you want to cool off, the North Wing is the place. Sun never touches it, and I saw what I think was some kind of poison darts.

CJ: Poison darts?

Stacy: Hey, CJ, help me. This is heavy.

CJ: Down here! Good luck on that rat thing.

Timothy Owl: Yes, well, don't forget those darts now, and there was a blowgun too. I'm sure of it. North Wing, don't forget.

Stacy: Finally, my arms are falling off. Here, take some of this.

CJ: Hold the lantern and I'll take the tray. Is all of this just for us?

Stacy: I tried to tell her, but she's so afraid we might go hungry.

CJ: Yeah, but doilies, napkins, and saucers? We don't have this nice of stuff on Christmas. Where are we going?

Stacy: Well, maybe we could go over to the North Wing.

CJ: No, I just carried the stuff from the kitchen. I am not going all the way over to the North Wing. Hey, what's in there?

Stacy: Don't know. Let's go in this one.

Timothy Owl: Oh, no!

CJ: Oh, nice. It really is cooler down here. My favorite kind of room: big, airy, and filled with unopened crates. Hey, should I put this out now? The lights work fine.

Stacy: Better leave it lit. If the lights go out on us, we would be in a real mess trying to find our way out of here. Oh, we forgot our pry bar to open these.

CJ: Got it! Very nice. Let's just start on this one.

Narrator: Well, as the kids were working on the crate, Rick, one of the two rats that lived there in the mansion, had been looking in on the cubs. He couldn't get Professor Madavi fast enough. Even though Professor Madavi is a rat, he traveled with Mr. Collins in the Middle East and has for some time now been sort of caretaker of all the artifacts in the mansion.

Rick: Professor! Professor Madavi! Professor, Professor, they're in the room!

Professor Madavi: Rick, Rick, slow down. What room? Who?

Rick: CJ and Stacy! In the room with the player!

Professor Madavi: In the room with the player?

Rick: Yes, they're there now!

Professor Madavi: Are they opening the crates?

Rick: Yes, they just started when...

Professor Madavi: Don't just stand there and babble! Come on!

Rick: Yes, right! I'm coming!

CJ: Okay, stand back. This could fall. Oh, yeah! Looky here. Hey, look at this book.

Stacy: Book-schmook. Hey, another tube! This one was in a box of its own.

CJ: What's the box say?

Stacy: Just number 137K. What are these things? Look at this baby.

CJ: A hat?

Stacy: Not just a hat, a pith helmet.

CJ: Whoa. You think this could have been Mr. Collins'?

Stacy: It is! His name's inside. This is so great.

Professor Madavi: Is that the crate?

Rick: I'm not sure, but it is one of these.

Professor Madavi: The last time I saw Mr. Collins alive, he was wearing that hat. I've waited 12 years for this. If they find the player...

Rick: Professor, you're shaking. Sit down. Rest yourself.

Professor Madavi: I'll be fine. Oh, maybe I will sit. I think she has the journal. Mr. Collins' journal! What is she doing? I can't see her.

Rick: Just sit here and rest. I'll go see.

Professor Madavi: Take care, Rick. This is no time to be reckless.

Rick: They'll never see me.

Stacy: Hey, this isn't just a book. It's some kind of diary or something. Hey, it's Mr. Collins' diary!

CJ: Diaries are for girls. This is a journal.

Stacy: Oh, brother.

CJ: Look, we've got sketches and notes of places he's been. I don't really understand a lot of it, but this is very fun.

Narrator: Well, as the cubs were absorbed with the journal and the crates, and Rick was absorbed watching them, Timothy Owl had sneaked into the room. And that old owl saw Rick peeking out from the corner of the bookcase.

Timothy Owl: Why, you little rat! You little troublemaker! You think you're winning here? I will...

Stacy: There's an owl in here!

Rick: Get back!

Professor Madavi: Rick!

CJ: He's after that rat!

Professor Madavi: Professor!

Ned the Beaver: Ned the Beaver here! Did you know that we have a big blank wall in the clubhouse that needs to get filled up? So how about this? Parents, take a photo of your child listening to Paws & Tales wherever they happen to listen. It could be comfy places, funny places. You know we'd love to see them! And I will personally post these photos on that blank wall for all to see. I've got some tape right here! Just send them into pawsandtales.org. This is so fun!

Narrator: Well, it looked pretty bad for Rick. He was frozen with fear, and Timothy Owl had his claws out and was swooping in for the kill. That's when Stacy grabbed Mr. Collins' pith helmet and threw it at that owl like a saucer.

Stacy: Rick, Rick, get in here! Are you alright?

Rick: I'm fine. I thought I was a goner.

Professor Madavi: He missed you by a hair's breadth. It's Stacy that saved you. Come now, there is more to this than an owl looking for a meal.

Rick: How do you mean?

Professor Madavi: That owl was wearing an amulet around his neck.

Rick: An amulet?

Professor Madavi: A necklace with a sort of charm on it.

Rick: Sorry, I didn't notice. I was busy looking at his talons reaching for my throat.

Professor Madavi: I've seen that amulet or drawings of one like it before. I'll have to give it some thought.

Stacy: What did you do that for? You almost had the rat! Get out of here! Every old house has a rat or two, but an owl? We've got to find out how he got in here and close it up.

CJ: He got in by an open window. That was an impossible shot.

Stacy: I know. I can't believe it myself.

CJ: You were like some kind of warrior from the tribe of owl hunters. You could make holsters that your pith helmets hang on so you could just pop-pop hit any owls that fly by. Found a vase! Couple of vases.

Stacy: The last page of this journal that was written on is dated May 1898.

CJ: Isn't that the year he died?

Stacy: Yeah, it was. Hey, these are the last journal entries that he wrote before he died.

CJ: Where was he when he wrote last?

Stacy: The ancient land of Persia.

CJ: Persia? I love Persia. Of all the places in the world, I love Persia the most.

Stacy: Have you ever heard of Persia before?

CJ: Never. Where is it?

Stacy: I don't know. Middle East. It talks about Susa. The Citadel of Susa?

CJ: Yeah. How did you know that?

Stacy: King Xerxes?

CJ: You just knew that?

Stacy: I've heard the story, and the label on this vase says "Citadel of Susa, Reign of King Xerxes." But I do know that that is where the story of Queen Esther took place. Here's another note about cylinder number 137K. What's that mean? Hey, what is this?

CJ: What? Look at this baby. Is it a suitcase?

Stacy: It's beautiful. Whoa.

Professor Madavi: Praise be to heaven, they found the player.

Rick: So that's the player?

Professor Madavi: Be alert. I think we are not the only ones who want this.

Stacy: I think it's a case for something.

CJ: This must have cost a fortune. Look at the wood on this thing. The brass and leather.

Timothy Owl: Fire! Fire!

Stacy: Fire?

CJ: Is that owl? He's nuts. Ignore him.

Timothy Owl: Fire! Somebody help!

Stacy: If there's a fire, we need to know. If he's lying, he's going to be in big trouble.

CJ: Hey, don't forget your pith helmet!

Stacy: This could be good. Wait for me!

Professor Madavi: That owl is up to something. He's trying to keep them from the player.

Rick: What should we do?

Professor Madavi: I'm not sure. Get back! Here he comes. Oh, no. He's locked them out!

Timothy Owl: Where are you, you little vermin? You thought it was over? I should say not!

Professor Madavi: What is it you are afraid of, owl?

Timothy Owl: Afraid? I'm not afraid of anything! But you should be!

Rick: Professor!

Professor Madavi: You mean to burn the player?

Timothy Owl: And maybe a rat or two as well!

Professor Madavi: Rick, listen. You need to pull the key out of the lock and slide it under the door so the cubs can unlock it. Be careful and go quickly. You fail to realize that you too are locked in this room, Mr. Owl.

Timothy Owl: Oh, indeed I am, but I am also able to fly, and fly I will!

Professor Madavi: Then when you fly, you can tell your evil master that you have failed.

Timothy Owl: Master? What master do you imagine, you stupid rat?

Professor Madavi: The one who forces you to wear his charm around your neck. You are clearly the servant of another.

Timothy Owl: Why, you little crawling... Don't! Get away from that key!

Professor Madavi: Now, Rick! Push it under the door!

Rick: Here it comes, CJ!

CJ: Look, the key!

Timothy Owl: I will not be outwitted by two lousy rodents! Say goodbye, Rick!

Rick: Oh, no! This is not going well. What to do, what to do?

Stacy: It's on fire! Get a blanket!

CJ: First I've got to get me an owl!

Stacy: I need some saucers!

CJ: Okay, let's get the rug and throw it on the fire. Looks like we caught it in time.

Stacy: He did that on purpose. I know it.

CJ: I just thought he was kind of nutty. Had no idea he was like this. Could have burned the whole place down.

Stacy: Well, we've got to get Mrs. Collins, but first I'm going to find the window that he flew in and board it up.

CJ: I'm all for that. The case got burned.

Stacy: Oh, no! How bad?

CJ: Not too bad. Let's open it up. You can play if you want. I'm going on an owl hunt.

Stacy: Wow, CJ! Look what we've got here.

CJ: What?

Stacy: I'm not sure, but it sure is something. It's a machine. Hey, we've got instructions inside the lid. "Insert crank handle." Okay, here's the crank. "Wind clockwise." Winding. "Insert cylinder onto spindle, lower needle." CJ, this thing is a record player.

CJ: Then where are the records? And what's a cylinder? What's a spindle?

Stacy: I don't know. A cylinder... CJ, the cylinders are tubes! The tubes are the records! Quick, find a tube!

CJ: Do you think it still works?

Stacy: I don't know. Where's the one you had before?

CJ: I don't know. Here's one. Now what?

Stacy: Let's turn it on. Lower the needle. Is it working?

CJ: I don't know.

Mr. Collins: Continuing from cylinder 122K. The missing crates include all of the books, spare tents, and the clothing. There's nothing that we can't...

Stacy: Is that Mr. Collins?

CJ: I think so. This is unbelievable.

Stacy: Hey everyone, Stacy here from Paws & Tales. What if you could help kids around the world hear about the great love of God for His children? We do it in a fun way that is full of music, laughter, and storytelling that makes kids want to listen. This is exactly what we do here at Paws & Tales. To help out with a donation of any size, just jump over to pawsandtales.org and click the donate button. Thank you so much for the help!

Mr. Collins: Though most of the vessels are broken, it is clear they are from the reign of Xerxes the First. The city is a rather...

Narrator: Well, the two cubs had indeed discovered the true treasure of the Collins' mansion. They sat there listening to the voice of Mr. Collins from some 20 years ago.

Mr. Collins: Item number 94 is a very nice water jug.

Narrator: They listened to one whole cylinder only to discover that it was mostly a lot of lists and measurements of artifacts that he had found. The excitement of it all was beginning to wear off.

Mr. Collins: Item number 98 is what appears to be a brass amulet of an unusual design.

CJ: Okay, I'm bored. Better get Mrs. Collins. Do you think she knows about the tubes and the player?

Stacy: I don't know. She'd have to, wouldn't she? Let's try another tube. Maybe they're not all like this one. Hey, let's look for... oh, where was it? Here! Cylinder number 137K. You have that one.

CJ: Yeah, it was over here somewhere. Give me a hand.

Narrator: While the cubs were busy searching for cylinder number 137K, Timothy Owl was flying as fast as he could to a high and remote cave near the top of Wild Mountain.

Timothy Owl: Oh, that hurts. Oh, Stacy, you haven't heard the last of me. Hello in there! Hello! Are you in there?

The Evil One: Who dares enter into my presence?

Timothy Owl: Oh, who? Oh, well, that would be me. Timothy. Timothy Owl, sir, your Highness.

The Evil One: What do you have for me?

Timothy Owl: Well, sir, it seems that there's some good news and some bad news. Well, that's not quite right. No, it's not. Well, it seems that I have some bad news and I have some bad news.

The Evil One: What is it?

Timothy Owl: Well, the two cubs, CJ and Stacy... that Stacy! Would you believe that she was hitting me first with a pith helmet and then with saucers?

The Evil One: Silence!

Timothy Owl: Oh, yes. That was... yes.

The Evil One: Where did they find a pith helmet?

Timothy Owl: Well, in a crate in the mansion.

The Evil One: Was it his pith helmet?

Timothy Owl: Well, I can't be sure.

The Evil One: If they have his pith helmet, then they are in the basement. In the last room.

Timothy Owl: And it was lucky that I was there. I heard them planning to go there, and I followed them in.

The Evil One: Why did you not come for help?

Timothy Owl: Yes, well, that was the problem. See, I was really on the horns of a dilemma. You see...

The Evil One: Do they have the player?

Timothy Owl: Yes.

The Evil One: Have they listened to the cylinder about Shadow Valley?

Timothy Owl: No. Well, I don't know. Not when I was still there. I tried everything I could. Nothing went my way, nothing. Nothing I tried worked. And the way that Stacy was throwing things at me, it was as if something was helping them. It was as if... God was helping them!

The Evil One: Do not say that name! Of course He was helping them, you fool!

Timothy Owl: God, you mean?

The Evil One: Silence! If they find that cylinder, then they will know. And you will be the first to feel my wrath!

Timothy Owl: So, there's no chance I'm going to get the weekend off, is there?

Stacy: Here, I got it! Cylinder number 137K.

CJ: Yeah, let's see what's on this one. Then we've got to go find Mrs. Collins.

Mr. Collins: March 11. We arrived after dark last night. There was no moon, and we couldn't see anything but stars. This morning, with the sun rising over the hills, I can now see the land of ancient Persia. The very spot where the great city of Susa stood, the center of one of the greatest kingdoms in the east, the kingdom of Xerxes the First.

Stacy: Xerxes! Told you.

CJ: I know, I know you told me.

Mr. Collins: This is where the story of Esther took place. In the entire book of Esther, there is no mention of God. Not once. How ironic that though His name is not mentioned, it is unmistakable that God was working out His perfect plan.

It was against the evil pride of Haman that God used the lives of the noble Mordecai and the beautiful Jewish girl Esther to save the lives of the entire nation of Israel.

CJ: Now we're talking! He's going to tell the story from the very place where it happened.

Stacy: Yeah, this is getting good. Let's listen.

Narrator: Well, the player had been found, and a whole new world was opening up for the cubs, and soon for the rest of the club. Why, in time, the contents of those cylinders would have an effect on everyone in Wildwood.

Even though the cubs don't know it right now, the battle for Shadow Valley has begun. Like Mr. Collins said about the book of Esther, though they can't see it, God's hand is on them, guiding them into the battles that lie just ahead.

Insight for Living: To order a copy of today's program, Cylinder Number 137K, just log on to pawsandtales.org. Cylinder Number 137K was written by David Carl and directed by Eric Basel. The song "24/7" was written by Sandy Howell and Nick Brown. Music was by Tim Hosman, and our sound designer was Eric Basel. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.

Guest (Male): Hey, have you ever had a day that seemed completely haywire? Well, did you know that even on a day like that, God is working toward the great things He has planned?

Guest (Female): There's never been a day of work He's missed. He don't forget a thing that's on His list. What He has planned, He'll bring about because it's the Lord we're talking about. That is what the Bible tells us this.

Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, He's doing His work in His mysterious way. No matter if it's Tuesday noon or Friday at 11:00, God is working 24/7.

So you can't see Him, don't think He's not there. He hasn't drifted off to sleep somewhere. He's always doing something good for His name's sake. He never needs a nap or a vacation break. His mighty power is far beyond compare. Totally awesome!

Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, He's doing His work in His mysterious way. No matter if it's Tuesday noon or Friday at 11:00, God is working 24/7.

Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, He'll always be beside us, yeah, come what may. The ruler over everything, King of Earth and Heaven, God is working 24/7. No matter if it's Tuesday noon or Friday at 11:00, God is working 24/7. God is working 24/7. 24 hours, 7 days a week. God is working, yeah, He never sleeps.

24 hours, 7 days a week. God is working, yeah, He never sleeps. 24 hours, 7 days a week. God is working.