With a Little Help from My Friends

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#348: “With a Little Help from My Friends”
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Romans 12:2

2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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With a Little Help from My Friends

“With a Little Help from My Friends” is episode #348 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Phil Lollar, and originally aired on March 16, 1996.

Summary

Sam Johnson, Connie, and her mother, June Kendall, compare stories about giving in to peer pressure.

Plot

At Whit's End one afternoon, Connie, Jason, June, and Sam talk about their recent run-ins with peer pressure.

Sam starts off by telling about something that happened the previous day. On the way home from school, he was stopped by Courtney Vincent and several other kids who were on their way to the park to pick up trash. Courtney asked Sam to go with them. Sam refused, saying that his parents always want him to come straight home from school before he goes anywhere else. But Courtney and the others kept pleading and pressing until he finally gave in and went. Before he knew it, an hour had passed! Now he feels dopey for letting Courtney and the others talk him into disobeying his parents.

Sam’s not the only one who’s given in to peer pressure, though. The previous weekend, Connie went to the mall with her friends Blair Worthington and Carla Austin. These snobby girls all but dragged Connie into a store so they could avoid talking with one of their geeky school-mates, Larry Melwood. Moments later, Blair and Carla managed to pressure Connie into basically blurting out that Larry is the biggest geek in school, right as Larry walked up to them. He was hurt and ran off before Connie could apologize. Now, Connie feels just awful about it.

But much to everyone’s surprise, June says she knows just how both Connie and Sam feel. The previous week, she succumbed to peer pressure herself. She had just gotten a promotion at work. June was attending her first executive meeting when the big boss asked for comments on one of his pet proposals. June felt she should say something about how bad the proposal was, but Harry Waters, the co-worker who pushed for June’s promotion, advised against saying anything. In fact, Harry put so much pressure on June that she went along with the crowd, just like Sam and Connie did.

Jason sympathizes with them. Then he tells Sam, Connie, and June what Whit used to say, ”You plus Jesus are always a majority.” Whit meant that the next time they’re tempted to go with the crowd, they should pray. Jesus will help them stand up for what is right.

The following week, Connie, Sam, and June each have the opportunity to do that. Sam resists Courtney’s coaxing to sneak off school grounds. Connie apologizes to Larry despite Blair and Carla’s pressure for Connie not to do it. June diplomatically tells her boss what she really thinks of his proposal, and gets demoted for her frankness. Each one is still happy they did the right thing. And Connie, Sam, and June now know the best way to combat peer pressure.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why is it sometimes so hard to not give in to your friends?
  2. Jason told everyone that Whit used to say, “You plus Jesus are always a majority.” What does that mean?
  3. What is positive peer pressure?
    • Give an example of how you could use it.

Cast

Heard in episode

Role Voice Actor
Blair Worthington Michelle Stacy-Hanna
Carla Austin Maureen Davis
Connie Kendall Katie Leigh
Courtney Vincent Sara Buskirk
Brooke Myers Amber Arnold
Harry Waters Townsend Coleman
Jason Whittaker Townsend Coleman
June Kendall Maggie Malooly
Larry Melwood Justin Morgan
Mr. Peterman Jimmy Weldon
Sam Johnson Kyle Ellison

Mentioned in episode

Character Mentioned By
John Whittaker Connie Kendall
Pete Johnson Sam Johnson
Nancy Johnson Sam Johnson


Notes

Trivia
Allusions
  • The name of this episode is also the name of a Beatles song that has been covered numerous times (most famously by Joe Cocker, whose version was used as the theme song for the 1988-93 ABC dramedy "The Wonder Years").
  • The lines about spunk (see quote below) may have been based on the first episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" where the same exchange takes place between Mary and her boss.
  • The expression "you plus Jesus is a majority" is possibly a reference to a Frederick Douglass quote which reads: “The man who is right is a majority. He who has God and conscience on his side, has a majority against the universe.”

Quotes

Connie Kendall: Ugh, you Whittakers can be so annoying sometimes!

Mr. Peterman: You know, June, you've got a lot of spunk.
June Kendall: Oh, thank you, sir.
Mr. Peterman: I hate spunk.

Connie Kendall: Why does 'all the rage' cost all the money?
Blair Worthington: Hey. No one ever said looking good was easy.

Jason Whittaker: This already sounds like a session of "Peer Pressure Anonymous".
Connie Kendall: Yeah. "Hi, my name is Connie and it's been two days since I last caved."

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