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The normally bashful Mr Boynton turns into the kind of lover Connie dreams about, but only in her dreams. Her dream can’t last, and Connie has breakfast with Mrs Davis. Gotta love those original concoctions. It’s payday, and Connie plans to splurge on herself for her birthday. Her eye is on an aligator skin purse.
Various bills make demands on her paycheck, and threaten to keep her from it. All her friends conspire against her so she can’t afford that purse, and they can give it to her as a surprise birthday gift.
The rent to Mrs Davis is due. The smooth talking Walter, butters up Connie so he can ask for a loan for his friend, the Ice man. Is it the man, or the horse who is having the baby? Or maybe it was a sprained foot? At school, Harriet is next to hit up Miss Brooks for a loan. Harriet tells a sob story about a boy, and a dog, and hospitals. Hey, what do you know! Miss Brooks still has enough to pick up that little handbag, but her friends aren’t through with her yet.
Mr Conklin hits her up for an old war buddy. As Connie gets behind on yet another bill, she meets with Mr Boynton in the cafeteria. After hearing so many sob stories, she tries to second guess the story he sets up for her. Even though she is wiped out of cash, she won’t be undone. After school she heads to a bank for a loan for her handbag. “Oh golly, that’ll spoil everything!” exclaims Harriet.
Will Connie win the race to the department store? Not if Harriet can help it. Not to be outdone, Connie cuts a corner of her own and causes a riot of slow burnns at the Conklin house, where a surprise party is in the works.
Surprise! She gets the purse, and all her money back, but she’s not talking when it comes to admitting her age.
