Ernie attempts to remould his image after a classmate he is attracted to, Margaret, refuses to give him a second look. Margaret, however, prefers Roger and is obviously disappointed when Ernie is selected as her partner in a poem recitation.

Ernie's writing ability lands him in the dreaded special English class with its strict but efficient teacher. Her reputation as an ogre keeps him so uncomfortable that he not only performs badly in oral recitation but in his written work as well.