Meet Merton #1

Merton Muddle finds himself caught between two determined young women—Marcia Thorndike and Jo Ann Sweet—who are both convinced he's their exclusive boyfriend, while he and his pal Calories Casey attempt to build a flying helicopter jeep in Casey's garage. When Merton tries to keep the peace by naming the vehicle after each girl in turn, he sets off a chain of hilarious mishaps that culminates in an indoor test flight with decidedly chaotic results. By the time the dust settles, the evidence of Merton's romantic scheming has literally vanished—but the real trouble might just be beginning.

Marcia Thorndike seeks advice from Merton's father on how to win over the oblivious teen, who'd rather tinker with gadgets than pay attention to girls—but when she takes the old man's romantic tips a little too literally, the results prove far more chaotic than anyone bargained for. This 1953 humor tale from *Meet Merton* #1 turns a simple crush into a comedy of errors, complete with allergic sneezing fits and a serenade that nearly wakes the neighborhood.

Merton Muddle's attempt to send a paper helicopter note to Jo Ann Sweet goes hilariously sideways when the air conditioning duct swallows his message—and sends Principal Mr. Billingsly on a chaotic chain reaction involving the ventilation system, a blackout, and far more help than anyone bargained for. When the dust settles, Merton discovers that his reckless folded paper somehow ended up being the best thing that could've happened to him on the hottest day of the school year.