Mike Mulligan

Mike Mulligan is the head of the Mulligan family, who live on a farm in the Odyssey area with an ever-growing menagerie of animals. He is the father of Lisa, who is blind, and the uncle of Nick, a rough-edged boy from New York who comes to live with the family. The Mulligans hold to a promise: when God's will is clear, say yes, no matter the cost. That promise fills their farm with kangaroos, ostriches, goats, and even a baby elephant. It also opens their home to children in need, such as the twin sisters Jessica and Janelle. Mike is steady, patient, and brave. He teaches the young people around him that being different does not mean being wrong. When floodwater traps Jessica, he risks his own life to catch her. Money is often tight, but the Mulligans keep saying yes.