Julia doggedly encourages Gracie to tell the truth at school, even though it means ratting on a classmate whose misbehavior had lead to the cancellation of an outing -- but she's ready to fudge a bit herself to retrieve their adorable puppy from the pound. Meanwhile, Shirley is convinced the puppy is the vengeful reincarnation of her grandfather.

Sensible Julia has the time of her life throwing caution to the wind and, at Shirley's urging, taking a day off; meanwhile, Gracie ditches school and has a lousy time.

Nick can't quite get up the nerve to ask Julia out; and looks on suspiciously when a man she stood up at their high school prom reappears, now a wealthy banker, claims not to remember the snub which has haunted Julia's guilty conscience, and begins to court her. And he's right -- the man tricks her into appearing on a tabloid television show so he can humiliate her in public.