Meet Merton #9

In a classic 1958 teen humor tale, Merton tries to save money by buying a secondhand outboard motor, only to be swindled by Chris, who sells him a beat-up "foreign make" English motor that runs on petrol—unavailable in the U.S. at the time. With the motor useless and stranded on the lake, Merton’s frustration turns to disbelief when he realizes he’s been tricked, only to find out the twist is even more ironic when Chris’s dad reveals he bought the same motor for him, using Merton’s own twelve dollars.

Merton Muddle and his friends build a helicopter out of a jeep, naming it after the girl they think deserves it—only to find the names they painted on the fenders have vanished. As the flying vehicle spirals out of control, both Marcia and Jo Ann Sweet arrive at the garage, each convinced the jeep was named after them. The chaos ends with the girls confronting Merton, who’s left wondering what ever happened to the names he painted.

Jo and Merton share a quiet moment at the end of a long day, their easy camaraderie hinting at something deeper beneath the usual banter. When Jo’s feelings for Merton start to surface in unexpected ways—through candy, flowers, and even a dramatic serenade—Merton’s father, Mr. Muddle, steps in with a mix of nostalgia and misguided advice.

In a lighthearted mishap, Merton Muddle’s attempt to pass a note to Jo Ann via a paper helicopter backfires when the air conditioner’s exhaust sends it flying straight into the hands of Miss Tiddlewink, sparking a frantic chase and a surprising twist involving the school’s ventilation system. What begins as a simple prank escalates into a comical rescue mission when Merton ends up stuck in the ducts, leading to a surprising resolution that leaves the school closed for the day.