The Kilroys #54

When a young man needs cash for a date, he strikes a deal with his pop to earn three dollars by washing the car, cutting the lawn, and shining shoes—but his pal Solid Jackson has a better idea: why not turn the shoe-shining gig into a neighborhood business? With Jackson's "brains" and a delivery service using the family jalopy, the two partners are convinced they're about to clean up—until their attempts to speed up production with an unconventional shining method leave them with a scrambled pile of shoes and no way to sort out who owns what.

Hank Wilson thinks he's found the perfect way to win over Betty Brown, the new girl who's stolen every boy's heart at Centerville High—a shiny new Willoughby-8 automobile that will make him the envy of the school. With newfound confidence fueled by his father's promise of the car, Hank finally works up the nerve to walk Betty home and begin his romantic campaign.

In "null," Betsy reflects on the cost of her date with Homer, her disappointment tempered by his willingness to spend. Though Homer doesn’t mind the expense, Betsy can’t help feeling unfulfilled—she paid her own share, and the evening leaves her wondering what it all meant.

The captain of Southside High's basketball team accepts a wager with a rival from Northside before their championship matchup, but when the game comes down to the final seconds, his opponents resort to sneaky tactics to try stealing victory. With the score razor-close and everything on the line, a moment of quick thinking determines who takes home the trophy and the malts.

When two neighborhood boys, Solid Jackson and Natch, meet the charming new girl next door during a moving day, they both set their sights on winning her affection—but their friendly rivalry quickly turns into an all-out competition for Sweet Sue's attention. As the two wolves clash over who'll win her heart, Sue has other plans entirely, and the boys learn a lesson about jumping to conclusions.