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To boost her meager teacher’s income, Connie tells about some freelance writing she has been up to. Using pen names, she has submitted various articles to a magazine. She tries to explain to Mrs Davis about her alter egos that she submitted those articles under, and the checks she is expecting in the mail. Of course, Mrs Davis is wacky enough to not quite get right, but she plays along well.
The magazine is one called, true family romances, and is one where Connie had invited the editor to give a speech to the student body just recently. In her aledgedly true articlesConnie posed as the mother of a quiz kid. Another where she is the mother of a dopey kid. Just then the phone rings from the magazine editor. As a fact checking policy, the editor wants to verify that she is really a mother of a quiz kid, and at the same time he wants to stop in to check on that other mom of the dopey kid elsewhere in town. No credentials, no check. It looks like Connie has a mess on her hands.
Meanwhile, Harriot complains to her dad that he tore up her article to the same magazine. he doesn’t want his family life aired on the pages of a magazine. Besides, he’s a bit resentful that the editor that Miss Brooks invited to school, has inspired everybody to submit articles. It is looking bad for the school, and he is to face up to Mr Stone about it.
As Connie is just walking down the walk, Conklin stops her to share his unhappiness at the craze spreading in the student body about wanting to submit articles. He also wants her to type up a report to Mr Stone for him, and he is insistent that he needs to meet with her at the same time she is to meet with the magazine editor.
Later at school, Conklin answers the phone to talk with Mr Nemo, the editor of the hated magazine. When Conklin learns of the amount of the check, he suddenly claims to be the woman in question. It was a pen name you know. He is to meet the editor in person an hour after his meeting with Connie later. I guess greed has a way of changing a mind.
In the cafeteria, Connie talks with Mr Boynton, who helps her find a 14 year old son to pose as her quiz kid. Walter is all to eager to help out. It all has to be kept a secret from Mr Conklin. As he leaves the cafeteria, Walter is approached by Mr Conklin with a proposition. The principal wants Walter to pose as his dopey son. Of course, Conklin has the right leverage to persuade him, and the situation needs to be kept hush hush.
As Connie awaits her meetings at home, Walter hasn’t shown up yet when Mr Nemo arrives. She brags on her intelligent son. Walter has gotten his roles mixed up and plays the dopey kid. Conklin stops in for his typing mission, so Connie tries to get rid of him.
Upon introductions, Conklin tries not to be recognized by the editor. Walter plays up his dopey partt, and puts the finger on Conklin as his other parent. Will Connie’s explanation be satisfactory to get her check? Will Conklin go easy on her? He sure doesn’t have much ground to stand on.