Adventures In Odyssey

Shirley Zigler is afraid of everything. When we first meet her, she is screaming at the top of her lungs at the sight of Jake's pet mouse, Luthor. Whit notes Shirley's problem and tells her that Jesus' perfect love can cast out her fear. Whit suggests that most fears are really inside our heads. He coaxes Shirley into holding Luthor just so she'll know that there is no reason to be afraid. All is well for a few seconds - then Luthor moves. Shirley screams again and drops him, sending Luthor scurrying off into the cracks and crevices of Whit's End.

This doesn't sit well with Jake, and he concocts a plan to teach Shirley a lesson about fear. With the help of his friend Danny, Jake sets the plan: He'll lure Shirley down to the basement of Whit's End, where he's rigged up some boxes to fall on her. Danny's job is to turn out the lights once they're down there and then distract Connie, who is working upstairs. All while Whit is at a meeting.

Shirley comes in, and Jake puts his plan into action. Down in the basement, Shirley is frightened. Jake laughs, especially when the lights go out. But when he tries to take Shirley back upstairs, he trips over his own booby trap and ends up spraining his ankle. They yell for help, but Danny is doing his job so well that no one hears them. Jake can't walk, so it's up to Shirley to face her fears and go for help. She remembers Whit's words about fear and turns to God for strength. Shirley sets her mind on Jesus, and her fear disappears. Jake is rescued, and all learn a valuable lesson about the power of Jesus' perfect love.

Whit gets on the same elevator as Jean Forbes. Jean then tells Whit how Dr. Frank Graves deserves a medal for how he handled a situation last week...

The Forbes are getting ready for Sunday School while seven-year-old Emily Forbes is watching her loose tooth dangling in the mirror. She doesn't want to pull it out, because she wants Dr. Graves to pull it. It ends up falling out just before they pray for the food. Later at church, Emily, Jean and Bob talk with Dr. Graves. Jean mentions how much Emily loves going to the dentist. She's going to the dentist tomorrow and can't wait for it.

Later that night, Mark Forbes, Emily's brother, decides to scare her by telling her Dr. Graves is going to pull all of her teeth out with big pliers, and how she will get a shot so it doesn't hurt so much. When her parents tuck her in bed, Emily tells them she doesn't want to go to the dentist because she's afraid. Bob tells her she doesn't need to be afraid.

When the big day arrives, Emily is scheduled to go before Mark, and Dr. Graves takes her to the yellow room. She tries to stall and says she should come back when she's not so busy. Then Dr. Graves tells her he was almost finished. Dr. Graves gently gets to the source of Emily's warped information. The good dentist promises not to hurt Emily, and together they devise a plan to turn the tables on Mark, giving him a taste of what it feels like to be afraid. After they scare him, Dr. Graves tells Mark that even though he was just pulling a joke, he hurt Emily by making her afraid of him, making her lie to her parents, and making her dread the whole day. Mark apologizes to Emily, then Dr. Graves tells him "Smile big like a crocodile, Mark!"

Jean finishes her story, and Whit agrees Dr. Graves deserves a medal. Whit then asks why Dr. Graves never asks him to smile big like a crocodile.

Odyssey's most recent resident, Connie Kendall, writes about her new home in a letter to her friend Marcy back in California. Connie describes various places and people in Odyssey: Whit's End, an ice cream parlor and discovery emporium; Tom Riley, a retired farmer and city council member; Officer David Harley, "whose brain takes an occasional vacation"; and most of all, an amazing fellow named John Avery Whittaker.

Connie describes Whit: businessman, writer, and all-around storehouse of information. Connie also tells Marcy about Whit's devotion to God. His devotion guides everything he does, even how he looks at world events - which, Connie explains, is what got her into a bit of trouble.

In a flashback, Connie and Whit listen to a news report on the radio about wars. Connie laments the world's violence remarking that if people would just get to know each other, they'd see how much they have in common, and all wars would end. Whit feels this is a noble idea, but not very realistic. Connie believes Whit is wrong. She says that peace would be possible if everyone simply promised to treat one another with kindness, gentleness, and patience.

To prove her idea is realistic, Connie makes that promise herself, on paper. She will try to be patient for four weeks. Everything goes well - for the first few days. Connie puts up with impatient customers and other irritations with grace and ease.

But later, when the kids fail to figure out a simple electric train riddle Whit tells them, Connie becomes so impatient that she explodes, belittling the kids and completely embarrassing herself. Whit explains to her that no matter how much we may want to conquer our sinful nature, we can't, it's too strong. That's why we need Jesus the only one who can transform us - and the only one who can change the world.

It's Christmastime at Whit's End. Whit, Tom, and Officer Harley are setting up the tree, and Connie is doling out hot chocolate. Two of the kids are arguing about the meaning of giving gifts. Whit tries to convince them that "it's not the gift but the thought that counts," and "it's more blessed to give than to receive." When the kids scoff at this, Whit comically presents for them the O. Henry story, Gift of the Magi, told in the style of a "Fractured Fairy Tale."

Madge, a very poor woman, is upset over how she can't afford to buy a really nice Christmas present for "her guy, Guy." Her mother, Ethel, tries to convince her to go to get her hair cut at Pop's Top Notch Top Shop for twenty dollars. Madge is hesitant because her long, silky hair that falls almost to the floor is one of the two most prized possessions that are shared between the couple. The other is Guy's antique, familial heirloom watch, with a beautiful case, ivory face plate, and whenever opened, plays a touching little melody.

Madge that decided to go shopping to take her mind off her dilemma. However, while she walked past Fishbine's Jewelers she saw a beautiful gold chain in the display window that would go perfectly with Guy's watch. She asked Morty Fishbine how much the chain would cost. It turned out to be a valuable heirloom, but it would be sold for $20. Madge decided to take drastic action and go to Pop's Top Notch Tops shop to have her hair cut for the twenty dollars she needed.

On her way back to Fishbine's Jewelers, she found the store was closed and that the chain was packed away for a New Year's Day sale. Just as she starts to cry, and since Mr. Fishbine can't stand a woman crying, he allows her to buy the chain. After an hour long confusion about "her guy, Guy," she raced home in the snow to wrap her gift with wallpaper.

Guy walks in soon afterward and doesn't recognize her at first because her hair is cut. He is astonished that she would cut her hair but understands the situation. The main reason Guy was so surprised was because of his gift to her, which was a set of combs made from pure tortoise shell with jeweled rims. She had wanted these combs for years and is delighted to have them. Madge then gives the gold watch chain to Guy. He then tells her that he sold the watch so that way he could buy Madge's combs. The story ends with them leaving together, more in love than ever.

Whit explains that although neither of them expected such generous gifts, they were both willing to sacrifice to give a special gift to the other. That is what real giving is about.

It's a busy day at Whit's End. The phone is ringing, kids are demanding sundaes, Tom Riley is making deliveries - everything is in an uproar. Yet, despite all this, Bobby Novak is bored silly. He wants excitement and new activities, not the same old Bible Bowl that occurs every few months. Whit tells him to stay alert - excitement could be waiting on the other side of the door. Right on cue, the door opens, and in walks a young teenage girl named Connie Kendall.

Connie is looking for a job so that she can earn enough money for a bus ticket back to Los Angeles, California. After hearing a bit about her, Whit hires Connie on the spot. Connie proves to be popular with the kids - especially with Bobby, who develops a big crush on her. Bobby is so smitten, in fact, that he plans on sitting next to Connie when she rides the bus back to L.A. When Whit finds out, he is horrified and asks Connie for some explanations. Connie is just as surprised as Whit and assures him that she knew nothing about the crush.

Connie won't take any responsibility for the situation, but Whit tells her she can't simply drift through life thinking she won't influence anyone - God made us dependent on each other. Connie claims she's not into God, but Whit says that her attitude won't solve the problem. But Whit does know how Connie can help solve the problem.

Later that day, Tom coaxes Bobby to come to the Bible Bowl - with surprise host, Connie Kendall! Connie gets Bobby to participate in the Bowl, and they both have a lot of fun.

Afterward, Connie convinces Bobby, and herself, that instead of looking for happiness in California, maybe they should try to find it right here in Odyssey.

Craig Moorhead is a funny guy. No matter what anyone says to him, he always responds with a joke. In the three weeks, he and his family have been in town, Craig has made a lot of friends by keeping them in stitches. Unfortunately, Craig takes his humor too far when he razzes Freddy, whose parents are getting a divorce. Freddy storms off, and Craig goes home, where he faces his own family problems.

Craig's dad moved the family to Odyssey to start a handyman business. However, business isn't going so well, and Craig's mom wants to move back to Columbus, where they previously lived. This conflict erupts into a full-blown argument. Craig, who likes living in Odyssey, is distraught by his parents' conflict. He tears out of the house and races away on his skateboard, which he ends up crashing. Craig's friends see him crash and rush over to check if he's all right. But instead of offering sympathy, his friends ask him to tell more jokes. Craig angrily refuses. His friends leave him feeling bruised, hurt and alone.

Craig wanders into Whit's End and tells Whit the whole story. Attempting to explain things to Craig, Whit uses some melting orange sherbet and raspberry ice cream to illustrate the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. Craig has sown nothing but jokes with his friends, so how can he expect to reap their sympathy? Craig understands and promises to put what he has learned into practice — a promise he gets to keep immediately when the door opens, and in walks Freddy.

Davey Holcomb is a walking disaster. It seems everything he touches or attempts ends up in failure. At a Little League baseball game, Davey strikes out three times, knocks over the portable backstop, cleats his own second baseman, and causes the entire team to trip over him when he bends down to tie his shoe.

After the game, the team goes to Whit's End to commiserate about their loss. At Whit’s End, Davey meets Whit, who shows him around. As they talk, Whit learns that Davey is interested in inventing things. Whit suggests Davey try out the Inventors' Corner, but Davey is afraid he'll fail again. Whit asks Davey to help him bring out a new display called "Whit's Flop," an invention Whit couldn't get to work. Davey tries to fix "Whit's Flop" and nearly succeeds — until he accidentally breaks off a lever on the machine.

Davey runs out of the shop, feeling very sorry for himself. Whit follows to bring him back inside, telling Davey that he must fix what he has broken. So Davey returns, and he and Whit work on the flop together, creating a new invention. They unveil it later that afternoon, but when Davey proudly turns it on, it shorts out and nearly blows up. He leaves again, feeling sorry for himself.

A short time later, Whit finds Davey and offers him a piece of freshly-made pizza. They talk, and Davey learns that the machine fizzled out because of a short in the wiring at Whit's End, not because of anything Davey did. The machine, a pizza oven, works wonderfully and is a big hit with the kids. Davey has succeeded — without even knowing it! Whit explains that this is an example of how "God works all things together for good."