Wally is in a bit of trouble with Ward. He was very late in getting home and didn't call to tell either parent. Wally says he did try but the line was busy. Maybe a good excuse, but Ward wasn't buying it. Wally finds himself the recipient of a stern lecture.
A few days later day June finds a letter addressed to Wally. It's a booklet for the Merchant Marine. June suspects Wally is planning on running away because of the harsh lecture Ward gave him. Even Ward is buying in. Perhaps they should be more considerate of Wally and his feelings. They try to sound him out at dinner, but aren't having much success. And it's for a good reason, the envelope for the Merchant Marine was for Lumpy. Lumpy is angry with his dad for taking away his car keys. Wally suggests instead of running away Lumpy try talking with his dad. Lumpy says he tried but then he got angry and ran upstairs and locked himself in his room. Lumpy feels by running away he will show his dad what a grown man he is.
When a letter of application for the Merchant Marine arrives at home, June calls Ward at work. Fred overhears Ward talking with June. If Wally is having problems, it's because Ward doesn't have the relationship with Wally that Fred has with his Clarence. If nothing else, Fred claims, is that he knows his boy.
But when Lumpy gets the application he claims he is going to fill it out. At home, Ward confronts Wally, but Wally explains it's all for Lumpy. Wally says he has been doing his best to convince Lumpy his idea of running away is stupid. Wally says Lumpy isn't as lucky both he and the Beaver are in having a guy like Ward for their father. Wally says he knows he can always talk with his dad, Lumpy doesn't have that relationship with his dad.
Ward says if Wally can't convince Lumpy then Ward will have to speak with Fred. Now things are spiraling out of control. Beaver told just about everyone that Wally was running away. Even Mary Ellen calls Wally and asks if she can keep his sweater to remember him by, even if they did break-up. Wally tells her it's fine, she can keep the sweater. Ward decides he has to call Fred, but Fred comes over to straighten Wally out. He emphasizes to Wally and Ward the wonderful relationship he has with Clarence. Lumpy uses the opportunity to get his car keys back. Problem solved, Lumpy hands Wally the application so Wally can toss it.
Ward at least is happy, he knows he has a solid relationship with his boys. But what about Fred? He's always the last to know. I guess we will have to accept this episode as one that warns of possible future problems with Clarence and his daddy. But how was it even possible that Ward and June to believe Wally would run away? Are there dark secrets in the Cleaver household? Nah. Even I couldn't believe that. But Wally does have a problem: How to get his sweater back from Mary Ellen.
A few days later day June finds a letter addressed to Wally. It's a booklet for the Merchant Marine. June suspects Wally is planning on running away because of the harsh lecture Ward gave him. Even Ward is buying in. Perhaps they should be more considerate of Wally and his feelings. They try to sound him out at dinner, but aren't having much success. And it's for a good reason, the envelope for the Merchant Marine was for Lumpy. Lumpy is angry with his dad for taking away his car keys. Wally suggests instead of running away Lumpy try talking with his dad. Lumpy says he tried but then he got angry and ran upstairs and locked himself in his room. Lumpy feels by running away he will show his dad what a grown man he is.
When a letter of application for the Merchant Marine arrives at home, June calls Ward at work. Fred overhears Ward talking with June. If Wally is having problems, it's because Ward doesn't have the relationship with Wally that Fred has with his Clarence. If nothing else, Fred claims, is that he knows his boy.
But when Lumpy gets the application he claims he is going to fill it out. At home, Ward confronts Wally, but Wally explains it's all for Lumpy. Wally says he has been doing his best to convince Lumpy his idea of running away is stupid. Wally says Lumpy isn't as lucky both he and the Beaver are in having a guy like Ward for their father. Wally says he knows he can always talk with his dad, Lumpy doesn't have that relationship with his dad.
Ward says if Wally can't convince Lumpy then Ward will have to speak with Fred. Now things are spiraling out of control. Beaver told just about everyone that Wally was running away. Even Mary Ellen calls Wally and asks if she can keep his sweater to remember him by, even if they did break-up. Wally tells her it's fine, she can keep the sweater. Ward decides he has to call Fred, but Fred comes over to straighten Wally out. He emphasizes to Wally and Ward the wonderful relationship he has with Clarence. Lumpy uses the opportunity to get his car keys back. Problem solved, Lumpy hands Wally the application so Wally can toss it.
Ward at least is happy, he knows he has a solid relationship with his boys. But what about Fred? He's always the last to know. I guess we will have to accept this episode as one that warns of possible future problems with Clarence and his daddy. But how was it even possible that Ward and June to believe Wally would run away? Are there dark secrets in the Cleaver household? Nah. Even I couldn't believe that. But Wally does have a problem: How to get his sweater back from Mary Ellen.
