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The Truth About Zachary

Album: 23: Twists and Turns

Episode: 299

Lesson/Theme: Friendship;encouragement.

Bible Verse: Romans 15:1-3

Characters: Lucy, Connie

Writer:

Sound Designer: Mark Drury

Original Air Date: January 28, 1995

Last Air Date: March 17, 2009

Description:
Zachary Sellers is the new kid in town. He’s unusual, in more ways than one. The most obvious characteristic about Zach is that he’s in a wheelchair. But Zachary is also very intelligent. He’s able to fix the electric train when even Eugene can’t repair it. Unfortunately, Zachary is so bitter about being crippled that he treats everyone around him with rudeness and, sometimes, cruelty. Lucy wants to get to know him, but she mistakenly tries to get Zach to open up in front of their entire class. Zach embarrasses himself and everyone in the class. He marks Lucy down as one of his enemies. This makes Lucy’s next assignment for the Odyssey Owl, interviewing the newest kid in school, Zachary Sellers, all the more difficult. Unfortunately, Zach is insulted by Lucy’s natural curiosity about how Zach became crippled. He rightly tells Lucy that it’s none of her business. He even turns the tables on her by demanding to know why she has two last names: Cunningham-Schultz. But Lucy ignores his question. She continues to press Zach until he finally blurts out the truth: A drunk driver hit their family car. It killed Zach’s dad and crippled Zach. Later, Jack tells Lucy she needs to come up with a way to show Zach that she’s his friend. The next day, Lucy visits Zach. He is still cold to her, until Lucy explains why she has two last names. Her dad was also killed in a car accident, and her mom remarried. Zach warms up to Lucy, and the two of them talk about their fathers.

Questions:
Why was Zach so bitter? Should Lucy have suggested that Zach tell the class about himself? Why or why not? What should you do when someone you’re trying to make friends with treats you badly?