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The Day After Christmas

Album: Gold Audio 01: The Adventure Begins

Episode: 6

Lesson/Theme: Caring for the poor.

Bible Verse: Matthew 25:31-46

Characters: Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: December 26, 1987

Last Air Date: December 26, 2008

Description:
It's the day after Christmas, and Annie McNeal is bored, despite the fact that she got everything she wanted-and more-for the holiday. She wanders into Whit's End looking for something to do. Annie finds Whit hard at work preparing boxes of food for the poor people at Foster Creek ghetto. Whit asks if Annie would like to help, and she agrees. At Foster Creek, Annie meets a young boy named Tommy who lures her out on the dangerous streets-against Whit's orders. When the two kids are spotted by a gang, Tommy runs off, and Annie is pulled into a house by old Mrs. Rossini, the local crazy lady. Only, Annie soon learns that Mrs. Rossini isn't crazy. She's a lonely widow who is pleased to have company for the first time in years. She and Annie have a delightful afternoon tea, and Mrs. Rossini tells Annie about her life, describing how the Lord has brought her through some very difficult times. Suddenly, the gang shows up again. They smash Mrs. Rossini's windows and threaten to break into the house. But they disappear as quickly as they came-thanks to some quick thinking by Whit, who shows up with several deputies from the sheriff's department. They all head back to Reverend Pike's church for a delicious day-after-Christmas lunch, where Whit informs Tommy and Annie that since their disobedience led to the broken windows, they'll have to work to replace them. Tommy is disappointed, but Annie doesn't mind. She's glad to have something worthwhile to do with her time. Her afternoon with Mrs. Rossini has taught her a valuable lesson: The fun of getting Christmas presents can quickly disappear, but the excitement of giving lasts all year long.

Questions:
Why do you think Annie got bored so quickly with her Christmas presents? Why didn't Whit want Tommy and Annie to leave the church? Mrs. Rossini said her faith in God got her through some very difficult times. Can you think of times when your faith helped you? Explain.