Bubble Trouble at Camp Bee

Well, Earl is up to it again.  Only this time, with good intentions, as usual, it turns out to be a lot of bubble trouble as he decides to suprise Pearl by doing the laundry.

Transcript

Speaker 0:05

Hello, fellow Stowjourners. I'm your host, Dave Leighton, and welcome to Travel with a Purpose, a podcast designed to keep Coach earners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.

Speaker 0:24

Pearl had been spending long hours in the beehive sewing curtains, repairing cushions, and somehow organizing enough fabric to supply a small country. Earl noticed she was getting tired, even though she kept insisting she was doing just fine. That statement alone told Earl she needed h elp.

Speaker 0:46

So Earl decided he would surprise her, not with flowers, not with chocolate, not even with one of his famous I fixed it myself projects that usually require Jay and Joel afterward. No, Earl was going to do the laundry. Quietly, secretly, successfully. At least that was the plan.

Speaker 1:12

Early Tuesday morning, while Pearl was already hard at work in the beehive, Earl snuck into the RV and gathered two baskets of laundry like a man preparing for a classified military operation. Miles the poodle watched suspiciously from the couch. Keep this between us, Earl whispered. Miles barked once, which Earl took as agreement.

Speaker 1:37

Now, the Can't Be laundry room sits close to the tool shed, which for Earl was both convenient and dangerous. Earl had never successfully passed the tool shed without wandering inside just for a minute. As Earl carried the laundry baskets toward the laundry room, he noticed Jay standing beside the shed, looking at a pushmore.

Speaker 2:02

Well good morning, Earl, Jay called out. Got a second?

Speaker 2:05

Those words have started more can't be disasters than anybody cared to count. Earl set the laundry basket just inside the laundry room door. Well let me get the laundry going, and I'll be right there, Earl said importantly.

Speaker 2:20

Jay nodded slowly. Well, this'll only take a minute. These words were even more dangerous. Inside the tool shed, Earl quickly became distracted by sockets, extension cords, oil cans, and a mysterious bucket labeled probably useful.

Speaker 2:39

Meanwhile, back in the laundry room, Earl's washer was happily filled with every piece of clothing he'd brought whites, colors, towels, Earl's favorite sweatshirt, one bright red travel with a purpose shirt. Nature began quietly preparing consequences.

Speaker 3:02

About twenty minutes later, Carol, Jay's wife, wandered by, getting ready to do laundry. When she opened the laundry door, she froze. The washing machine was violently thumping around on the floor like it was trying to escape Texas. She stepped back outside and yelled toward the tool shed. Earl came running out of the shed holding a crescent wrench. What? The washer slammed against the wall again. Bang. Soap bubbles were now creeping across the floor toward the dryers.

Speaker 3:42

Pat Rains appeared seemingly out of nowhere, because Pat always appeared when chaos arrived. Well now, Pat said calmly, that don't look healthy. Earl lunged toward the washer and opened the lid. And a mountain of kink foam exploded upward like Mount Vesuvius.

Speaker 4:01

Carrol doubled over laughing. What did you put in there? Earl blinked innocently. Extra detergent. How much extra? Carrol asked. Well, I figured if a little was good. Pat looked into the detergent bottle. Earl, this thing is almost empty. Soap bubbles now floated out the doorway and started to run down the sidewalk.

Speaker 4:27

Ronnie Stewart, who heard all the commotion, walked by, stopped, and stared at the growing foam field. Well, he said thoughtfully, at least the laundry room floor's clean.

Speaker 4:39

Eventually the washer settled down enough for Earl to restart the load. That was when Pat quietly pointed into the washer. Um Earl Earl looked down. Every white item inside had turned bright pink. Congratulations, Carol gasped. You just created the official Camp Bee Valentine collection. Earl groaned. And Pearl's favorite sweatshirt, Pat added carefully. Earl suddenly looked like a man reconsidering if maybe he could quietly skip out of town.

Speaker 5:17

Well just then Pearl walked around the corner carrying fabric samples from the beehive. She stopped, soap bubbles floated across the sidewalk. The laundry room door stood ajar. Carol was laughing uncontrollably. Ronnie had backed away for safety. Pat was holding up a pink towel, and Earl stood in the middle of it all looking guilty enough to confess before trial.

Speaker 5:45

Pearl folded her arms. Earl, what exactly are you doing? Earl smiled nervously. Surprising you. Finally she smiled. Well, she said sweetly, I appreciate the thought. Orl brightened immediately. Really? Oh yes, Pearl nodded. And now you can surprise me again by helping clean the laundry room. Carol nearly fell over laughing.

Speaker 6:25

And from that day forward, whenever Earl disappeared near the tool shed, somebody always asked, Should we check the laundry room too?

Speaker 6:34

Earl's laundry adventure reminds everyone it can't be that helping others comes from the heart. Sometimes our efforts create soap bubbles, pink shirts, and stories that live on for years. Yet acts of love and service still matter. Galatians five thirteen encourages us. Serve one another humbly in love.

Speaker 6:58

Earl may never become Camp B's official laundry expert, but Earl appreciated the kindness behind the effort. And around Camp B, that kind of love usually matters more than perfectly folded towels. Thanks for listening to this podcast. I invite you to subscribe and share it with others. I'm your host Dave Leighton, and remember we glorify God as together we travel with a purpose. Happy sojourning.