Paws & Tales

Ned: Okay everyone, settle in. We need lots of good ideas to get the word out about Paws & Tales. So, what do you got?

Jim: Well, we need all the homeschool families to know about us.

Ned: I like it. You could travel to the house of every homeschooler in the country and invite them. That would be amazing.

Jim: I can't do that, Ned. I have a job. What about putting ads and clips on social media about how great Paws & Tales is? That would be really effective, I think.

Ned: Jim, Jim, Jim, I appreciate the enthusiasm, I really do, but that requires funds, money, moolah, simoleons. We're a small but scrappy team here at the Paws & Tales world headquarters. We don't have a bankroll to do something that big. Come on.

Jim: What if we asked some listeners to help with that, to donate to the cause so we can get the word out?

Ned: Yes! They could just visit pawsandtales.org, go to the donate button, and give a donation of any size. I think I just had a really great idea there. What do you think, everyone?

Guest (Crowd): Amazing idea!

Insight for Living: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales.

CJ: Land ho! We're coming into the port of Wildwood.

Insight for Living: Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. But 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! Ahhh!

Papa Chuck: I do believe this is the best band we've had in years.

CJ: Band music makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Stacy: CJ, you're a bear. You're always warm and fuzzy.

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

Papa Chuck: Howdy, and welcome to Wildwood. Well, it's the end of another school day, and as they do most every day, the club is walking home the same way they do most every day. CJ's house is first, then Goo's, then Stacy's, Marsha's, and last of all is Ned's house down by the river.

Ned: Well, I for one am really excited. I have studied, and I'm ready. This could be the best report card ever.

Stacy: I'm okay, except for math. What's with rounding off numbers? How can you just change a number? You can't just change numbers or call them something else. 3.75 is 3.75. How do you just decide that it would be better to call it four? That's not math.

Goo: Look, someone has painted mean words on the general store again.

Stacy: Like we don't know who did it. Everybody knows Hugh and his buddies did it.

Marsha: It's catching them in the act, that's the hard part.

Ned: That's always the problem. Like today before lunch, who gets caught? Hugh? No, Ned gets all the blame.

Stacy: What exactly did happen?

Ned: Hugh smacked me in the back of the head, so I reciprocated.

Goo: Ned, I thought you smacked him in the back of his head.

Ned: Thank you, Goo. I was searching for more words.

CJ: What makes Hugh so ornery?

Marsha: I think it's his mean dad.

Ned: Who knows? Who cares? One of these days though, he's going to get it, and get it bad for all the...

Hugh: That's so fast, girlie.

Stacy: Let me go! Hey, not my ear! How rude! Get off me, Hugh.

Hugh: Have I mentioned how much I love?

Stacy: Yeah, yeah, my bad, I know. Get off!

Hugh: I guess maybe I have said that before, haven't I? Monty, have I said that before?

Monty: Yeah, I think you have.

Stacy: You're going to be in so much trouble. Let's go!

Hugh: Oh, you are scaring me to death here.

Marsha: Stop it, really.

Stacy: Get off him, Hugh McQwaid!

Hugh: Well, I've had my fun anyway. Thanks for the exercise, CJ.

CJ: One of these days, Hugh.

Hugh: Yeah, yeah. You look terrified. I think I'm going to have nightmares. I love that he has that bad eye. It's so pretty and blue, and blue, and blue.

CJ: This is so humiliating.

Stacy: CJ, he's bigger than you are.

CJ: It's not that. My eye. He doesn't pick on anyone else like he does me. It's my eye.

Marsha: Goo, you were so brave.

Goo: Really?

Marsha: You were great. He couldn't get anywhere near you.

Goo: I don't know what came over me. I just, well, I guess I went into combat mode. Ned, are you all right?

Ned: Those guys just make me so...!

Marsha: They make you feel angry, don't they?

Ned: Goo, were it not for you, I'm afraid no one would understand me.

Goo: I'm here for you.

CJ: What if I wore a patch over my bad eye so it wouldn't stand out?

Stacy: I think that would be worse than pinning a sign to your back that says, "Kick me."

CJ: Yeah, well, this has got to stop. Something's got to change. See you guys tomorrow.

Papa Chuck: You see, that bright blue eye of his always has been the thing that seemed to cause nothing but trouble. And well, as far as CJ was concerned, it was just not fair.

CJ: God, I don't want to be disrespectful, but why do I have this? I didn't do anything to deserve it. It's embarrassing. It's cruel. I just want to be normal. I don't get it. Why?

Papa Chuck: This was certainly not the first time old CJ had suffered with his being different, but it was the worst. He was sullen all evening and had fitful dreams all night long.

Ned: So, Dave.

Insight for Living: Hey there, Ned.

Ned: We now have coloring sheets of the cast of Paws & Tales.

Insight for Living: That's right. Kids can download them and color them in to their hearts' content.

Ned: So why do CJ's and Stacy's pictures come in front of mine?

Insight for Living: Ned, stop. So kids, have your folks log on to pawsandtales.org/cj to download a coloring sheet of CJ, but come back often. Others will post soon.

Ned: But get mine first! Download mine first!

Papa Chuck: Well, that was a tough morning for just about everyone. Hugh was afraid that any moment someone would come through the classroom doors to punish him for doing such a mean thing to Mr. Crawford. CJ and Ned were afraid of the same thing. Because as soon as Hugh gets punished, Monty will tell him it was CJ that got them all caught.

And there was no doubt about how Hugh would take that kind of news. So there they were out on the playground when it started. And it was worse than Hugh could have imagined. It wasn't Mr. Crawford who came to get him, and it wasn't even Officer Hunt.

Hugh's Dad: Hugh! Get over here. What is this I hear?

Hugh: Dad, I didn't! We were just...

Hugh's Dad: They told me it was you, and I wouldn't believe them. And here it turns out it's been you all along. You come with me. You're going to get it at home.

Hugh: Dad, I'm sorry!

Stacy: Oh no. That couldn't have been worse.

Goo: How humiliating.

Marsha: I think I'm going to cry.

Monty: I've got to go turn myself in before my dad comes. Miss Harper! Miss Harper!

Goo: What do you think we should do?

CJ: Joining the circus sounds good.

Stacy: We just have to stay together. At least we have a chance when we're together.

Ned: But you did the right thing, CJ.

CJ: It's not fair.

Stacy: I know. That's the worst part. It's not that bad. We just stick together.

Goo: Yeah, we stick together.

CJ: Thanks. We better get going. Come on, guys. Ned, we'll be okay if we stick together, won't we?

Ned: Are you nuts? We're toast!

Papa Chuck: The club stayed together all that afternoon and were together as they made their way to school the next morning.

Club: Morning, Mr. Crawford.

Mr. Crawford: Well, good morning there, kids. Hey, CJ, how's it going?

CJ: Okay, I guess.

Mr. Crawford: Now listen, if those boys give you even a bit of trouble, you let me know.

CJ: I will. Thanks.

Mr. Crawford: Have a good day, kids.

Club: We will. Thanks, Mr. Crawford. Bye.

Ned: We are toast.

Goo: Why? Why are we toast?

Ned: Even the grownups know we're in trouble. They know Hugh as well as we do.

Hugh: Morning, Cyclops.

CJ: Get over it, Hugh.

Hugh: Good comeback, CJ.

Stacy: Just leave us alone.

Hugh: Very little chance of that, girlie. I'd say no chance of that at all.

Stacy: You're just going to get in trouble again.

Hugh: I can handle it.

Monty: Oh, like yesterday when you were crying at the school?

Hugh: What? Ix-nay the crying-ay.

Stacy: When are you going to learn? Everyone in the town thinks you're a thug. No one trusts you. No one likes you.

Hugh: Goo, it's you first. You'll all get it. You won't know when, but I will get each and every one of you. You'll never turn us in again when we're through with you. Have a nice day.

Monty: No one likes you. How rude. I like you. Monty, do you like Hugh? Oh, I like Hugh. I just don't like you. I don't think much of you either. But Hugh likes me. You do like me, don't you, Hugh? Like you did yesterday when you were crying at school? I know, I just got so mad.

Stacy: He's probably just trying to scare us, huh?

Ned: Well, that's exactly right. Just scare us and then just beat us all up.

Marsha: Oh, I don't want to get beaten up.

Stacy: It's all right, Marsha. We're all in this together. CJ did the right thing. God knows what he's doing.

Ned: Well, an occasional letter from him would be very helpful.

CJ: What makes someone so mean?

Stacy: Oh, what makes someone so unafraid of getting in trouble?

Marsha: The only thing Hugh is afraid of is his dad. Okay, let's make a plan. He won't try anything at school, so we're safe there. It's on the way to and from school that we need to be careful.

Papa Chuck: The day went by quickly, as it often seems to do when you don't want something to end. But before they knew it, school was over, and the time to be walking home was here.

Marsha: I'm scared.

Ned: Yeah, join the club.

CJ: Well, standing here won't make it any easier. Let's go.

Ned: Ow, my foot! Watch it.

CJ: Sorry, my bad.

Ned: Goo, you're walking right on top of me.

Goo: Oh, sorry. Just a little...

CJ: Look, we're all a little scared. We need to stick together, but I need more personal space here.

Ned: Relax, everyone.

Papa Chuck: Well, they walked together, talking low and searching around for any sign of attack, till they came up to where Goo needed to turn off and head out to her own house.

Stacy: You're not going to just let her go off by herself, are you?

Goo: I'll be fine.

CJ: Let's just wait here till she can see her house.

Marsha: Oh, be careful, Goo.

Goo: I'm fine. I don't think Hugh and those thugs will do anything today anyway. Most likely they will wait and make us suffer for a while. See you tomorrow!

Ned: You know what just dawned on me?

CJ: What?

Ned: I live the farthest out of town, and I have to walk the last part alone.

Hugh: Gotcha, you weasel!

Ned: Hey, guys! Ow! I'm surrounded!

CJ: They've got Goo cornered! We're coming! Get away from her, you cowards!

Hugh: I can't hold on, she's wiggling like a fish.

Monty: Little girlie too much for you? Leave her alone! Ow! She bit me! The little rodent bit my hand.

Hugh: Come and get it, Cyclops! Hey, did you see that? Right in his good eye. Good one, Stacy, you got him good.

Stacy: What are you talking about?

Hugh: Well, I'm not saying that I'm rooting for her or anything, but you got to admit she got you good.

Monty: How rude. Bit me. I didn't think you had it in you. I may be slow, but my tail can knock a thug off a log.

Papa Chuck: As the club was trying to help each other and hold off the bullies, Monty and Monty, CJ was left alone for a minute, holding his hands over his good eye. Every second he could feel it swelling up, and as it was swelling up, his eye was closing shut. He looked around with only his weak blue eye and saw his brave friends doing their best to protect him and each other. And then it started. It began down deep inside, and then he felt it in his eye, his weak eye.

CJ: Whoa, what's going on?

Papa Chuck: As CJ stood there looking around, he saw things differently than he had ever seen them before. It was all just as blurry as it had always been for that weak eye. But now he was seeing more, more than he had ever seen with his good eye.

CJ: Stacy, you're so brave, and you have such a pure heart. Goo, I just thought that you were silly, but you have gifts, wonderful gifts that you don't even know about.

Monty: She won't stand still. If you don't get a hold of that weasel, I'm going to give you a black eye.

CJ: Hugh. Hugh.

Stacy: What's with CJ? CJ, are you all right? Look at your eye. Now that is a shiner. Can you see at all?

CJ: Yes, I can. Hugh, how could I not have seen it before?

Hugh: Seen what? What are you doing? It's like you're seeing my truth. CJ, you're giving me the creeps here.

CJ: Hugh, it's because you're afraid. All of it. All of the meanness. All of it. It's because you're afraid.

Monty: What's he talking about?

Hugh: I'm not afraid of anything.

CJ: You're afraid of not doing well in school. You're afraid of not having any friends. You're afraid of your dad, and you're afraid that you'll never amount to anything.

Hugh: Shut up, CJ!

CJ: I'm so sorry, Hugh. It must be terrible to live like that.

Monty: I'm afraid of clowns. So am I. Why is that? I don't know, they just seem kind of... What's wrong with you two? How rude! You're always interrupting. What's wrong with us? What's wrong with you? You're the one who's afraid of everything. Are you really afraid of never amounting to anything? I'll get you! Missed me! He was just messing with you. Relax.

Are you really afraid of mice? He didn't say anything about mice. I know, I just thought what with everything else you're afraid of. I was just kidding. So, Hugh, are you really afraid of the dark? Wait till I get a hold of you! Just kidding! Bet you can't catch me! Hey, wait for me! I'm afraid to be left here alone!

Stacy: CJ, what was that all about?

CJ: I don't know. For a minute there, I could kind of see stuff.

Goo: CJ, something special just happened here.

CJ: That is one of your gifts, Goo.

Goo: What? What?

CJ: You can tell when things mean something.

Goo: I'm not sure I get what you're saying.

CJ: Me neither. Let's go. I need to get some ice and talk to Papa Chuck.

Goo: Yes, Goo. Do you see what I mean about her?

CJ: Let's go. You guys did great.

Stacy: We did do good, didn't we? I was scared. Stacy, were you scared? Yes, I was scared.

Insight for Living: Hi, Dave Carl here, creator of Paws & Tales. The creative team here has just finished the full-color official map of Wildwood. I wanted to sell it for $3.

Ned: I wanted to sell it for $3 quadrillion dollars. You should see this thing!

Insight for Living: But Papa Chuck said to give it away for free. You gotta love that guy. So visit pawsandtales.org/wildwoodmap and download your own free copy of the official map of Wildwood today!

Papa Chuck: CJ got ice on his eye, and after some explanation to his folks, he did indeed head on over to Papa Chuck's fix-it shop. CJ's learned that when he's in need of some talking, one of the best places there is is Papa Chuck's front porch.

CJ: I looked up and I saw stuff, but sort of like I didn't see it, I just kind of knew it.

Papa Chuck: That is amazing.

CJ: It was sort of stuff that I already knew but had never really seen before. Then it stopped. It's hard to explain.

Papa Chuck: I understand completely. You have a gift, CJ. Knowing. Seeing what a person really is. Boils down to discernment, really. It's a kind of wisdom to know what's inside someone, what they have.

CJ: Goo is amazing. She has gifts that she doesn't even know about.

Papa Chuck: Yes, yes she does. And now that you know that, it's up to you to encourage her to discover them, to use them, to use them to please God. That's why he gave them to her. That's why he gave this gift to you. It's a big responsibility.

CJ: How will I know what to do?

Papa Chuck: You pray for wisdom. The greater the gift, the greater the need to know how God wants you to use it. This is a big one, CJ. If you use it wrong, then what happens? With this gift of yours, you could help people, encourage them to grow, to be more like Jesus.

There are stories, stories of an elk that lived here long before I was born. He had a gift much like yours. He used it badly. He could tell what folks had inside, what they could be, and he lied to them, got them to do what he wanted them to do. Oh, he got rich and powerful, but he caused pain and suffering for maybe thousands. You need to learn how to use this, CJ.

CJ: I will.

Papa Chuck: God has plans for you, son. I think I know what one of them might be. You're not ready yet. I'll tell you someday. Maybe soon. Just want to be sure first.

CJ: You can't do that!

Papa Chuck: Someday, just not today.

CJ: (Singing) Oh, I used to sit and wonder as I gazed up at the sky if my life would have a purpose or if it would just go by. Though I still have many questions, I don't worry anymore because I've seen something that I've never seen before. God has a plan for me. Yes, I've begun to see. He'll bless others through the things I'll do if I follow where he leads.

So I'll put my hope in him, the one who set me free, and I'll give him all I can, put my future in his hands because I know he has a plan, a plan for me. I can't wait till I discover what my gifts are from above. Will I know when someone's hurting? Will I teach about God's love? Either way life will be different, knowing what I have in store, being used for the kingdom of the Lord.

God has a plan for me. Yes, I've begun to see. He'll bless others through the things I'll do if I follow where he leads. So I'll put my hope in him, the one who set me free, and I'll give him all I can, put my future in his hands because I know he has a plan, a plan for me.

So when the clouds roll in and the sky has turned to gray, I'll trust in him to light the way. So I'll put my hope in him, the one who set me free, and I'll give him all I can, put my future in his hands because I know God has a plan, a plan for me.

Insight for Living: The Gift was written and directed by David Carl. The song "A Plan for Me" was written by Sandy Howell and Nick Brown. Music was by Tim Hosman, and our sound designer was Eric Basil. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.