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The Mailman Cometh

Album: 41: In Hot Pursuit

Episode: 529

Lesson/Theme: With age and privilege comes responsibility

Bible Verse: Luke 12:48

Characters: Elaine, Marvin, Tamika, Wooton

Writer: Torry Martin

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: October 18, 2003

Last Air Date: February 7, 2009

Description:
It’s just not fair, say Marvin and Tamika. Their older cousin Xavier gets to do all sorts of things that they can’t: wander around the fair without a parent, drink coffee, and more. The brother and sister start to believe that disobedience is an option. Xavier is mowing the lawn when the Washington parents are away. Marvin convinces Xavier to let him drive, and soon Tamika jumps on too. Once Xavier steps away, chaos ensues. Marvin loses control when the ride-on mower kicks into another gear, rolling over the garden and eventually breaking the garage door! Worse, however, the three try to cover it up. Xavier takes all the blame...until Marvin realizes that Wooton may have seen the whole thing. The mailman shows up at their door, and the kids spill the whole story before Wooton can speak a word. Mrs. Washington grounds Marvin and Tamika for a week – while Xavier, their older and "more privileged" cousin, serves two weeks of time inside.

Questions:
What did Mrs. Washington say made Xavier different from her kids? How did Marvin and Tamika respond to their discipline? Was it the right way or the wrong way? What privileges or rewards do you have now that you didn’t when you were younger?