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Fair-Weather Fans

Album: Gold Audio 15: A Place of Wonder

Episode: 201

Lesson/Theme: Friendship; discernment.

Bible Verse: Proverbs 18:24

Characters: Whit

Writer: Charlie Richards

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: August 15, 1992

Last Air Date: September 26, 2008

Description:
Isaac meets a new kid in town named Derek, who is going door-to-door, selling electric fans. When Derek asks Isaac to join him as a partner, Isaac believes he's found a great friend. Isaac takes Derek around town and introduces him to everyone he knows, including Whit. Then, the two of them proceed to talk all those folks into buying fans. Derek even goes so far as to guarantee that the fans will last as long as the lifetime of the owner's house. Isaac and Derek make money hand over fist. Things are going well, until Derek learns that Isaac has already introduced him to everyone he knows. Then, Derek disappears. Unfortunately, the fans begin to break. The customers start calling Isaac, demanding to know what the problem is. Isaac and his dad go searching for Derek. When Isaac finds him, he discovers that their friendship and business partnership was a scam. Derek simply used Isaac to sell useless fans. Derek skips town, leaving Isaac to rectify the situation. With Whit's help, Isaac does. Together they fix the fans, and Isaac learns a painful lesson about choosing his friends wisely.

Questions:
Why were Isaac and the townspeople so easily taken in by Derek? How would you have handled Derek? What is the best way to choose your friends?