It's a Wrap!

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Odyssey. We're just getting ready for a time of wonder and discovery, so why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting Adventure in Odyssey.
Glenn Adams: Good grief, what are you eating?
John Avery Whittaker: This is my breakfast.
Glenn Adams: Spit and clay.
Connie Kendall: Spit and clay. What an interesting contrast.
Harlo Doyle: Thanks, you're not just saying that, are you?
Sam Johnson: What are you, nuts?
Dr. Huntman: Not that anyone would notice.
Eugene Meltsner: I'm not really certain that's true.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Hello, I'm Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, and welcome to this special edition of Kids Radio. As many of our listeners know, John Avery Whittaker, or Whit as he is better known, has recently returned to Odyssey from an extensive archaeological missions trip to the Middle East. Life since his return has been a rather busy readjustment, filled with decisions, renewed relationships, and the quest for normalcy. We decided to follow Mr. Whittaker for a day, just to give our listeners a chance to see him make those decisions, renew those relationships, and quest for that normalcy. Stay with us. We'll join Mr. Whittaker at the start of his day right after this.
Guest (Male): A mysterious phone call and a new nemesis? Emily Jones and Matthew Parker are on the case in the new book, *Jones and Parker Case Files: The Nemesis*. Sixteen new stories full of fun, faith, and intrigue. Kids ages 8 to 12 will sharpen their detective skills and learn important lessons as they read along, inspect clues, examine the evidence, and try to guess who done it.
Guest (Female): We're going to have a blast.
Guest (Male): For more, go to adventuresinodyssey.com/jonesandparker.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Thank you for joining us. John Avery Whittaker, a man loved throughout Odyssey for his honesty, wisdom, integrity, and ice cream sundae. How does he spend his days now that he's back from the Middle East? That's what we at Kids Radio wanted to know. Glenn Adams joined Whit for breakfast at one of his favorite diners. One of Mr. Whittaker's favorite diners, I mean, not Glenn's.
Glenn Adams: Thanks, Lucy. I'm here at Hal's Diner, a typical greasy spoon.
Hal Schneider: Hey, what'd you say about the restaurant, kid?
Glenn Adams: A four-star, highly rated dining establishment where Hal Schneider, the owner, gave me his kind permission to record John Avery Whittaker eating his breakfast. Oh, there's Mr. Whittaker now. Good morning, Mr. Whittaker.
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, Glenn. Is that you back there, Lucy?
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Hi, Mr. Whittaker.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, what's with the microphone?
Glenn Adams: Kids Radio is doing a feature about a day in your life. Remember? Lucy asked you if we could.
John Avery Whittaker: Yes, but I didn't know it was today. I'm not sure this is the best.
Glenn Adams: Oh, don't worry, Mr. Whittaker. Our plan is to be invisible to you. I'll be like a fly on the wall. You won't even know I'm here. Good grief, what are you eating?
John Avery Whittaker: What, this? This is my breakfast.
Glenn Adams: Eggs, toast with butter, coffee. Do you have any idea what eating bacon can do to your body? Does the term trichinosis mean anything to you? I had a second cousin named Christine who ate some raw.
John Avery Whittaker: Glenn, do you have a question, or are you just supposed to record me eating?
Glenn Adams: Right. Well, apart from the grease and fat-saturated breakfast.
Hal Schneider: Hey, I told you, kid.
Glenn Adams: That's no doubt deliciously filled with vitamins and other things that are good for you. Why do you come here to Hal's Diner first thing in the morning?
John Avery Whittaker: I don't come every morning, but two or three times a week. I like to eat my breakfast away from home.
Glenn Adams: Jason isn't a good cook?
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, he's a fine cook, but I just like the change of scenery from my home. There's something about sitting here by the window with the sounds and smells of a busy diner behind me I just enjoy.
Glenn Adams: It smells, all right. Do you think we can get secondary smoke inhalation in a place like this? My Uncle Bill used to work in a.
John Avery Whittaker: Glenn.
Glenn Adams: So, do you come here to eat breakfast amidst the hubbub of humanity and what? I see you have a book in front of you.
John Avery Whittaker: That's my Bible.
Glenn Adams: What an interesting contrast. Your Bible in a place like this. Kind of like that Norman Rockwell painting with the mother and the kids praying in the truck stop with big burly men all around them. Do people stare at you because you're reading your Bible in here?
John Avery Whittaker: No.
Glenn Adams: Then religious freedom is alive and well here at Hal's Diner. Back to you, Lucy.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Glenn, you're not doing a report about religious freedom in diners. You're supposed to talk to Mr. Whittaker about him. Ask him what he's reading in his Bible or about his trip to the Middle East.
Glenn Adams: Yeah, good idea. We're back, Mr. Whittaker.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, did we go somewhere?
Glenn Adams: You're reading your Bible here in Hal's Diner. What are you reading?
John Avery Whittaker: Well, let's see. Today, I'm in John, chapter 9.
Glenn Adams: That's great.
John Avery Whittaker: It's where Jesus heals the blind man with spit and clay.
Glenn Adams: Spit and clay. Probably looked a lot like that man's oatmeal.
Hal Schneider: Thanks a lot, kid.
Glenn Adams: Does this chapter in John have special meaning to you?
John Avery Whittaker: It does now. You know, I was in Israel for a while and I went to the site where they think this miracle actually took place. I was so deeply.
Glenn Adams: Did you get to ride a camel?
John Avery Whittaker: What?
Glenn Adams: I always thought that riding camels would be pretty cool. Did you get to ride one?
John Avery Whittaker: A couple of times, I guess.
Glenn Adams: Did you run into any, you know, terrorists?
John Avery Whittaker: I don't think camels join terrorist groups.
Glenn Adams: What about those great-looking hats? You know, the ones you wrap around your head. Did you get any of those?
John Avery Whittaker: I think we're getting off the subject, Glenn.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Whit's End. Quiet now, but in no time at all, it'll be bustling with the activity of children and adults from all over Odyssey, engaging in any one of the many activities Whit has set up for them.
John Avery Whittaker: Good morning, Connie.
Connie Kendall: Good morning, Whit.
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, Eugene.
Eugene Meltsner: Greetings, Mr. Whittaker. Why are you standing there like that?
Connie Kendall: Oh, we promised Lucy we wouldn't do anything unless she said so.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: You can do whatever you normally do.
Connie Kendall: Oh, thanks. I need to set up the table.
Eugene Meltsner: And I need to contact one of our food suppliers about a mistaken delivery of ice cream cones. This requires diplomatic skill and a shrewd business sense.
Connie Kendall: Oh, fine. Why do you have to make what you do sound more important than what I do?
Eugene Meltsner: It hadn't occurred to me that deft negotiating with a food distributor is more important than just setting up tables.
Connie Kendall: See? You did it again.
Eugene Meltsner: Oh, did I? It was unintentional, I assure you. I would be the first to acknowledge that Whit's End would be less than what it is if we didn't have the tables set up properly.
Connie Kendall: You're not just saying that, are you?
Eugene Meltsner: No, not at all. Forgive me if I offended you.
Connie Kendall: Well, okay.
John Avery Whittaker: Nicely handled, both of you.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Have you noticed any differences since you came back? With the people, I mean.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, yes, definitely.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Like how?
John Avery Whittaker: Well, Eugene's Christianity has changed him. He's far more sensitive to other people than he used to be, and to spiritual things, of course.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: How about Connie?
John Avery Whittaker: She's growing up. I see a deep maturity in her, even though she's as outspoken and impulsive as ever. I'm really impressed with both of them.
Connie Kendall: Sometimes Eugene doesn't realize how he makes people feel, but I think he's gotten a lot better about it. At least he stops to apologize now. He used to always justify his position. You know, have to get in the last word. Now, well, he's changed.
Eugene Meltsner: Well, old habits die hard, to borrow an obscure proverb. I believe I instinctively try to position my own activities as somehow being more important than what others do. No doubt a subtle reaction to some deep-seated personal insecurities, which I hope to work through by the grace of God.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Connie said you used to always have to have the last word.
Eugene Meltsner: Oh, did she? Well, I'm not really certain that's true. The last word, huh? Well, not always.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Okay, thanks.
Eugene Meltsner: I might only ever have the last word because there's nothing more for anyone else to say afterwards.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I understand.
Eugene Meltsner: Having made the definitive statement, you see.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I get it.
Eugene Meltsner: The last word. Intriguing.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: One thing that makes Mr. Whittaker so popular is his easy accessibility to the kids who come to Whit's End, and his wise advice. Glenn met up on the street with one young man with a problem.
Glenn Adams: That's right, Lucy. I've been standing out here in front of Whit's End, hoping to meet someone who was seeking out Mr. Whittaker's advice. Sam Johnson, can you tell us a little bit about your problem?
Sam Johnson: Problem?
Glenn Adams: Yes, you said you needed to talk to Mr. Whittaker.
Sam Johnson: It's no big deal, really. I just need to talk to him. That's all.
Glenn Adams: You need his advice.
Sam Johnson: Yeah, kind of.
Glenn Adams: Give us a hint.
Sam Johnson: I'm not sure I should.
Glenn Adams: Come on. Problems with parents? Your sister? Dietary questions? Bedwetting?
Sam Johnson: No, it's nothing like that. It's just that I found this wallet in the field behind Whit's End. See?
Glenn Adams: Whoa, that's a lot of money.
Sam Johnson: Yeah, but there's no identification. So I want to get it to Mr. Whittaker before someone finds out I have all this money and, you know, tries to take it from me.
Glenn Adams: You call that a problem? That's no problem. Boy, I thought it was going to be something juicy. You found a wallet. Thanks, Sam. Big scoop.
Sam Johnson: I'm sorry.
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, guys. What can I do for you?
Sam Johnson: I need to.
Glenn Adams: He needs to talk to Mr. Whittaker because he found a wallet out back.
Connie Kendall: Thanks, Glenn. Oh, well, Whit's upstairs with Eugene working on the Imagination Station. I can put the wallet in our lost and found.
Sam Johnson: Actually, it has a lot of money in it.
Connie Kendall: Really? Okay, I'll page Whit.
Sam Johnson: No, really, you don't have to.
Glenn Adams: Go ahead and page him, Connie. We need some life in this documentary.
Connie Kendall: Okay, sure. Whit, can you come down for a minute? Sam needs to talk to you.
John Avery Whittaker: I'll be right there, Connie.
Connie Kendall: Okie dokie. 10-4 and over and out. Wow, I wonder who the wallet belongs to.
Sam Johnson: It doesn't have any ID in it. I checked.
John Avery Whittaker: Good morning, everybody. Or is it good afternoon? Ooh, I better check with Greenwich.
Connie Kendall: Good afternoon, Harlo.
Harlo Doyle: Detective Doyle, if you please. I'm on a case, Connie. Jumping jellybeans, look at the cash in that wallet. Boy, your parents give you an awfully big allowance.
Sam Johnson: It's not mine.
Harlo Doyle: Not yours, eh? And what are you doing with it?
Sam Johnson: I found it behind Whit's End.
Harlo Doyle: Ah, so you say. But have you got any witnesses?
Sam Johnson: Well, no.
Harlo Doyle: Then how can you be sure you found it?
Connie Kendall: Look, before this gets confusing as usual.
Harlo Doyle: Confusing? Who's confused? I'm not confused. Are you confused? Oh, a reporter. You guys work fast. I'm prepared to make a statement.
Glenn Adams: A statement? I don't think we're ready for a statement, Mr. Doyle.
Harlo Doyle: Sure you are. Little red light's on, isn't it?
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, what's going on here?
Harlo Doyle: Just the man we're looking for.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, you were? Why?
Harlo Doyle: Well, because, well, I've forgotten now. I'm working on so many cases, they're hard to keep track of.
Glenn Adams: Sam just found a wallet out back.
Sam Johnson: I didn't just find it.
Harlo Doyle: Wait just a cotton-picking minute. When did you find this wallet?
Sam Johnson: Earlier this morning.
Harlo Doyle: And you're just now reporting it? Hmm. Sounds suspicious to me. Particularly since you still don't have witnesses to establish that you found it in the first place. I think a full interrogation is in order here.
Sam Johnson: Okay, okay, I confess. I found the wallet this morning, but I was tempted to keep the money so I could buy a new bowling ball with it. All right? Are you satisfied? I feel bad about it, and that's why I wanted to talk to Mr. Whittaker.
Harlo Doyle: Wait just a minute. You can't blurt out a confession before I get my interrogation lamp set up.
John Avery Whittaker: Harlo, I'll handle this, all right?
Harlo Doyle: Good idea. You keep him occupied while I find a plug.
John Avery Whittaker: That's all right, Sam.
Sam Johnson: It was bugging me all morning. I was on my way home after I went to Warboy's Sports Shop and saw that they had a new bowling ball I'd been wanting. But I couldn't afford it. Then I found the wallet with all that money. And I meant to bring it right to you, but there was so much money and.
John Avery Whittaker: And you were tempted to use some of the money to buy the bowling ball.
Sam Johnson: Yeah.
John Avery Whittaker: But you didn't.
Sam Johnson: No, sir.
John Avery Whittaker: Sam, you know that being tempted to do something wrong is no sin as long as you don't follow the temptation. You did the right thing, even if it took you longer than usual to do it.
Sam Johnson: But I still feel bad.
Harlo Doyle: I forgot to bring an extension cord. Will you bring the suspect over to this table here, please?
John Avery Whittaker: Sam, let's go up to my office where we can talk in private.
Sam Johnson: Okay, wait, let me get my stuff.
John Avery Whittaker: I said in private, Glenn. Come on, Sam.
Sam Johnson: Thanks, Mr. Whittaker.
Harlo Doyle: Hold on, hold on. Where'd they go? What about my interrogation?
Connie Kendall: I think it'll have to wait, Detective Doyle.
Harlo Doyle: That's Harlo, Connie. I'm off the case. Oh well, maybe I'll have an ice cream soda while I've got some time off. Ooh, jumping jugular veins.
Connie Kendall: What's wrong?
Harlo Doyle: I can't find my wallet.
Glenn Adams: What's your formula for giving advice, Mr. Whittaker?
John Avery Whittaker: Formula? Well, there's no formula. I just try to make it as easy as possible for kids to come to me and then I try to help them if I can.
Glenn Adams: Well, how do you help them?
John Avery Whittaker: Well, first I want to hear them out, what they're thinking and feeling about the problem. Then I try to ask the kinds of questions that'll guide them to the right answer. Sometimes we'll look at parallel situations in the Bible or relevant verses. And if I have to, I'll just spell out what I think the right answer is, just hope that the kids will take it to heart.
Glenn Adams: I see. Well, let's go for a specific example. The situation with Sam is a good one. You went up to your office with him.
John Avery Whittaker: I won't betray confidences, Glenn.
Glenn Adams: Okay. Well, then let me give you a situation I just made up. I'm a kid who just found a wallet with a lot of money in it.
John Avery Whittaker: Glenn.
Connie Kendall: Well, I called the police and told them not to come for the wallet. Now, Harlo, you're sure it's yours?
Harlo Doyle: Absolutely. I'd recognize that Made in Taiwan label anywhere. And if you check carefully inside, I believe you'll find my membership card to the Speedy Alka-Seltzer Fan Club, with a life-size photo of the actor who plays him on the back.
Connie Kendall: Yep, it's right here. But your name isn't on it. Why don't you have any ID in your wallet?
Harlo Doyle: What are you, nuts? I'm a private investigator. Strict secrecy is an imperative, unquote. If I kept identification in my wallet, why then, why then.
Connie Kendall: You'd lose it and no one would know it belonged to you.
Harlo Doyle: Precisely. You know, you might be cut out for this kind of work, Connie.
Connie Kendall: Yeah. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have to get these bananas sliced for the afternoon rush.
Harlo Doyle: Ah, the press. Glad you're back.
Glenn Adams: I never left.
Harlo Doyle: Then thanks for staying.
Glenn Adams: Why were you carrying so much money in your wallet? There must be at least two or three hundred dollars in there.
Harlo Doyle: Hmm, a good question. A very good question, indeed. Why was I carrying so much money? Jumping jury-riggers, it's another mystery. Ouch. I cut my finger.
Glenn Adams: You did?
Connie Kendall: Ooh, it's a bad one.
Glenn Adams: Hey, you're bleeding.
Connie Kendall: No kidding.
Harlo Doyle: Step aside, young man. I know first aid.
Connie Kendall: You do?
Harlo Doyle: Yes. Dial 9-1-1.
Connie Kendall: It's not that bad.
Glenn Adams: But it looks pretty bad.
Harlo Doyle: Bleeding like a stuck pig is one way to put it. Not that I usually work cases involving stuck pigs or any other farm animals for that matter.
Connie Kendall: Maybe I better ask Whit to come back down.
Glenn Adams: We're here at one of the several Odyssey emergency care centers where the paperwork has been processed, permission has been given, and Connie Kendall is about to get stitches put into her finger. How do you feel, Connie?
Connie Kendall: A little squeamish. I haven't had stitches in a long time.
John Avery Whittaker: Glenn, maybe you should wait outside.
Glenn Adams: But Connie doesn't mind me being here. Do you, Connie? I mean, this is a major exclusive for Kids Radio.
Connie Kendall: Yeah, I guess it's okay.
Glenn Adams: Thanks. Tell us about the procedure, Dr. Huntman.
Dr. Huntman: Well, it's pretty straightforward. We make sure the wound is clean, apply a local anesthetic, and then carefully put the sutures in.
Glenn Adams: Will she be scarred for life?
Dr. Huntman: Not that anyone would notice. Are you ready, Connie?
Connie Kendall: Yeah, sure. Sorry I'm so nervous.
Dr. Huntman: All right, just come right over here.
Glenn Adams: Of course, Connie's nervousness is not a surprise. Statistics have shown that when it comes to wounds, blood, and cool stuff like that, girls tend to be more squeamish than boys.
Dr. Huntman: I'd sure like to see those statistics, Glenn.
Glenn Adams: It's a well-known fact. Like last week when I showed Laura Harvey, my next-door neighbor, my worm collection. She freaked. I mean, she really freaked.
Dr. Huntman: Let's put those sutures in now.
Glenn Adams: She didn't know how to. Do you have to use such a long needle?
Dr. Huntman: This isn't a long needle.
Glenn Adams: But you're going to put that in her finger?
Dr. Huntman: It's the only way I know how to do it. Glenn, are you all right?
Glenn Adams: Yeah, I'm.
John Avery Whittaker: Nurse, smelling salts.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Connie, why don't you demonstrate for our audience how you cut your finger? Now, kids, don't try this at home. Sharp instruments like scissors and knives should only ever be used when your parents or an adult is supervising.
Connie Kendall: Okay, well, I was standing here at the counter, slicing some bananas for ice cream sundaes, you know, stuff like that. Anyway, I was slicing them like this. Well, actually not exactly like this because I didn't have a big bandage on my finger at the time. Well, okay, so I was slicing kind of like this when suddenly Harlo Doyle shouted. Well, it surprised me and I looked up like this and I brought the blade down like this.
Harlo Doyle: Connie, I came to express my condolences about the unfortunate mishap.
Connie Kendall: Oh no, what happened again?
Glenn Adams: That's gross, Connie.
Harlo Doyle: Perhaps you should stop playing with knives.
Connie Kendall: How embarrassing.
Bob: Can't get enough Adventures in Odyssey? Then go behind the scenes with the Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast. I'm Bob, producer of the Adventures in Odyssey Club.
Jesse: And I'm Jesse, editor of Focus on the Family Clubhouse Magazine.
Bob: We're the podcast hosts and we're excited to show you all the fun behind your favorite episodes.
Jesse: When you tune in, you'll learn more about the actors behind your favorite characters.
Katie Leigh: Hey, there's Connie. Hi, this is Katie Leigh, the voice of Connie. Welcome to the Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast.
Bob: You'll hear how the writers come up with their ideas and how the sound designers create all those amazing effects. Just watch out for spoilers.
Jesse: You'll also get the opportunity to ask questions of your own. The team answers questions from fans like you.
Guest (Male): How often are the writers meetings and how many albums do you plan ahead?
Bob: There's a bunch more stuff we haven't even mentioned.
Jesse: So what are you waiting for? Peek behind the curtain by listening to the Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast.
Bob: Find it wherever you get your podcasts, or better yet, visit adventuresinodyssey.com/podcast.
Jesse: See you soon.
Guest (Male): Hey, you over there. Come check out this super cool secret club. Well, it's not really a secret. Actually, I'm trying to tell everybody about it because it's so amazing. It's the Adventures in Odyssey Club. You'll get access to over a thousand episodes, some of them are even club exclusives. You'll also get behind-the-scenes content and devotions and games and a free subscription to Focus on the Family Clubhouse Magazine and sorry, I'll slow down now. I just get so excited talking about the Adventures in Odyssey Club. Head over to adventuresinodyssey.com.
Guest (Male): Want to contact us about the episode 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.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: We're back at Whit's End as the day draws to a close. I didn't go with Whit and Connie back to the emergency care center because I can't stand the sight of blood. Glenn couldn't go because his Aunt Sylvia is visiting from Cleveland and he had to go home for dinner. I'm here at a relatively quiet Whit's End with Eugene Meltsner.
Eugene Meltsner: This may well be my favorite time of day, Lucy. I suppose you could call it the proverbial calm after the storm. Most of the children have gone home. It's a good time to reflect on the events of the day, to meditate and perhaps draw lessons from them.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: What kinds of lessons have you learned from today?
Eugene Meltsner: Yes, I was afraid you'd ask me that. Well, I believe that from Sam's experience, we learned that honesty is far superior to dishonesty. And to be tempted is not a sin, though yielding to temptation is. And always be careful when using sharp objects. Have you learned anything from today?
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I learned never to do a documentary like this again.
Eugene Meltsner: Oh.
John Avery Whittaker: Now, Connie, I'm serious.
Connie Kendall: Whit, I just cut my finger, that's all.
John Avery Whittaker: I know, and I think you should go home.
Connie Kendall: You think the two bandages look silly, don't you? Is that it?
John Avery Whittaker: No, not at all, but there's no point in you being here. Eugene and I can handle everything. It's the end of the day, anyway. Now go home.
Connie Kendall: Well, if you insist.
John Avery Whittaker: I insist.
Harlo Doyle: Wait just a minute. Nobody leave the premises. Nobody move.
John Avery Whittaker: What now, Harlo?
Harlo Doyle: We haven't solved the case of the humongous amount of money found in my wallet, which has been complicated by a peculiar and inexplicable plot turn.
John Avery Whittaker: I'm afraid to ask. What kind of plot turn?