CLARA         Listen to Sample

Theme: Forgiveness; friendship.
Episode Number: 365
Writer: Phil Lollar
Scripture: Proverbs 17:17
Album: # 28: Welcome Home
Last Air Date: 09/02/2004
Original Air Date: 11/9/96
Summary:

Jack is at the Odyssey airport, picking up his one-way ticket to Chicago. Eugene walks up, looking for his flight-delayed bags. Eugene wants to know what Jack is doing there. The clerk behind the counter says that Jack is leaving Odyssey. Eugene asks where Jack is going and why he is leaving, but Jack doesn’t want to talk about it. He tries to walk away.

Fortunately, Eugene isn’t easily dissuaded. He follows Jack, pleading with him to explain what is happening. Eugene remarks that Jack should at least stay until he talks with Whit! But Whit is the last person Jack wants to talk to. The last time they were together, Whit said he never wanted to see Jack again. Eugene can’t believe it, and Jack tells his tale.

It happened right after Jenny, Whit’s wife, died. Jack takes Whit to Nebraska, where he is running an orphanage. Whit doesn’t really want to be there, until he meets Clara, a beautiful, hazel-eyed, red-haired, angel-faced six-year-old. The two of them immediately hit it off and soon become inseparable. Jack is pleased to see Whit smiling and laughing again and is also pleased that Clara is finally opening up to someone.

Whit falls in love with Clara. He is so taken with her, in fact, that he wants to adopt her. But Jack hasn’t told Whit an important piece of information about the little redhead: She’s already slated for adoption by another couple, and was even before Whit got there. Whit is extremely angry with Jack over this. Clara doesn’t want to go with the couple. This causes an emotional and tearful separation for Whit and Clara. She leaves with her new parents. . . and Whit says he never wants to see Jack again.

Back to the present. Jack says he’s always intended to contact Whit and try to seek his forgiveness, but something always got in the way. Now, he’s lost his nerve. He’s just about to leave when Whit calls his name. Jason had told Whit that Jack was at the airport. Whit produces a letter from Clara. In it, she thanks both Whit and Jack for finding her some wonderful parents and giving her a great start in life. Whit also apologizes for what he said to Jack and asks him to stay. There is a pause, and Jack agrees to remain in Odyssey. The two old friends hug, united once again.

PARENTS: This is an emotional show about love, loss, and adoption. It may be too mature for younger listeners.