Ernie is left in charge for one day when Steve and Barbara are off to Chicago for a golf tournament while Uncle Charley attends a string music festival. Little Dodie and her friend take a shopping excursion into town but don't have enough money for the bus ride home.

The rear bumper of Ernie's car is struck by a teenage girl in a parking lot. Ernie's car suffers no real damage but the other car's fender is crumpled. Before very long, this involves Ernie in an ill-fated romance.