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Not-So-Trivial Pursuits

Album: 32: Hidden Treasures

Episode: 417

Lesson/Theme: Fairness

Bible Verse: Romans 6:23

Characters: Bart, Jared, Liz, Mandy

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Jonathan Crowe

Original Air Date: November 28, 1998

Last Air Date: August 26, 2009

Description:
At Whit's End, Dwayne and Jack Allen are answering questions from a new book, UNIVERSAL TRIVIA by Universal Press Association, when Bart Rathbone arrives to drop off some lightbulbs Whit had ordered. Bart is so impressed with Dawyne's knowledge that he offers to get Dwayne on the "Kid Facts" TV show in order to win some cash in return for a 10 percent cut of the winnings. Bart and Dwayne meet Brian Brainard, Dwayne's "Kid Facts" opponent, and the only kid who's ever answered all the questions right, and after being quizzed by Brian, Dwayne is not sure he can win. Bart assures Dwayne that he will provide him with a competitive edge, and later Bart offers Dwayne a piece of paper with the answers to the questions written on it, and Dwayne reluctantly agrees to cheat. At Whit's End before the show, Dwayne asks Jack about whether it is okay to cheat, and Jack urges him not to cheat just to protect his pride. On the air, during the game, Dwayne confesses that he cheated, and Brian admits that he had gotten the answers ahead of time as well, ending the game and leading to an investigation by the Odyssey Times and the Captain O'Ryan of the Odyssey Police Department. Liz and Mandy are in their empty classroom, telling each other about the most embarrassing things that ever happened to them. The girls are horrified to discover that Jared DeWhite, hiding in the closet, has heard Mandy admit that she still sucks her thumb. Jared promises not to divulge her secret, and Liz tells Mandy that Jared still sleeps with a teddy bear, named Mr. Bobo, in order to seal the deal. At Pep Squad tryouts, Mandy discovers that her secret is out and Liz immediately goes to Whit's End and blames Jared, and though he denies being guilty, Liz announces his secret to everyone there. Later, Liz confesses to Mandy that it was she who told Mandy's secret, and now Mandy must make it up to Jared. The girls find Jared at Whit's End and apologize for what they did and he forgives them. They all agree that it's wise not to tell your secrets if you don't want them to get out, and it is wrong to listen in on people's conversations without telling them.

Questions:
The whole problem with Mandy and Liz could have been averted if Jared hadn't "accidentally" listened in on their conversation. Why didn't he say anything when he was in the closet? Why did Liz think it was okay to tell Jared's secret? Do you think it was all right? Dwayne decided to look at the answers ahead of time because Bart said they were his "competitive edge". How was Dwayne being unfair to his competitor? Can you think of anyone in your life who you've treated unfairly? How can you fix that situation?