Family Troubles

Janet senses that her parents' attention is focused on her older sister during the aunt's visit, leaving her feeling unseen and unloved. This neglect feeds anger and despair, pushing her toward a drastic decision.

Overwhelmed, Janet decides to run away from home to force her family to notice her. She hopes that leaving will redraw their attention to her.

The gang volunteers to find a family willing to 'adopt' Janet, discussing several candidates. After naming several possibilities, they settle on the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Mary Jones and escort Janet to their home.

The Joneses agree to adopt Janet, but they intend to teach her a hard lesson rather than welcome her warmly. They prepare to set strict boundaries as part of the unconventional adoption.

A neighbor boy witnesses the exchange and rushes to the Burstons' house, claiming Janet was kidnapped by a gang led by a figure with a heavy voice. Janet's parents quickly learn of the alleged abduction and grow anxious.

News of the kidnapping prompts Janet's parents to contact the police, seeking help to locate their daughter. The family atmosphere becomes tense as authorities get involved.

When the gang visits with Janet, the elderly couple quickly realize that she is a runaway and decide to teach both her and the gang a lesson. They confront the situation and proceed with their plan to discipline Janet.

The Joneses force Janet to scrub the kitchen floor, sleep under the kitchen table, and surrender all food in exchange for bread and water. Janet cries out in distress, wondering why she ever left home, as the punishment unfolds.

Mrs. and Mr. Jones leave the kitchen to phone Janet's parents to retrieve her, but once they depart, Janet, with the gang's help, runs away once more. The plan to separate her from her family collapses as she slips back into the street.

Realizing that the police are searching for them, the gang flees and hides in a cave. They hunker down to avoid capture while the manhunt continues outside.

Inside the cave they attempt to cook a handful of potatoes, but the cooking process burns them and creates heavy smoke. The resulting soot covers their faces, helping them hide their identities.

Seeing the soot as a disguise, the group brings Janet back home and explains to her parents why she wanted to run away. They reveal the gang's involvement and the hardships Janet faced during the ordeal.

Janet's family realizes how fortunate they are to have her and pledges to be more attentive in the future. Mary apologizes for her unfeeling behavior and promises it will never happen again.

With the situation resolved, Froggy quips 'All's well that ends well', only for Jasper to correct him that Shakespeare originally wrote the line. The moment adds a light, humorous close to the events.