Little Eva #9 (1953)

In "Growing Up," Jo and her friend dream of skipping childhood by pretending to be adults, borrowing their parents’ clothes and using black shoe polish to look older—only to be thwarted when they discover the "adult show" they wanted to see was actually just last night’s movie. Their elaborate disguise and effort are undone by a simple sign, leaving them disappointed but still laughing at their own scheme.

Jo, a new bike enthusiast, confidently writes down the serial number 12345678 before riding off—only to have his bike stolen by the neighborhood tough, Knuckles Knowley. After a chaotic chase involving a ringing bell, a sidewalk elevator, and a mistaken police stop, Jo discovers the bike was never stolen at all: he’d forgotten to set the brake, and it rolled down the hill, leading to a mix-up over ownership.

Jo, feeling unwell, insists she’s fine despite her symptoms, but her friend insists on treating her with hot lemonade—only to discover the lemonade stand is mysteriously empty after Jo has had just six glasses. The sudden shortage leaves both puzzled, as the drink seems to have vanished before their eyes.

Jo and Cindy head out to fish at their secret pond, where Jo boasts about catching fish with his bare hands—only to get tangled in his own fishing line. When a splash draws Nipper to the scene, Jo panics and devises a scheme to lure fish by painting a giant one on a board, leading to a surprise reveal that leaves Jo stunned.

Jo, a wide-awake girl determined to stay up past bedtime, hatches a plan to sneak out her window using a makeshift rope made from her sheets. After a wobbly climb down and a brief rest, she’s ready to enjoy the night—until she unexpectedly drifts off to sleep, only to wake up the next morning still in her pajamas, much to her parents’ surprise.

Jo and Cindy use their "private telephone" to accidentally contact a flying saucer, which announces it’s landing that night—sending the girls into a flurry of excitement as they rally their friends to become sky watchers. The next morning, they’re stunned to discover their "flying saucer" was actually a dazzling meteor shower and the rare St. John’s Comet, dazzling the night sky in a spectacle far more magical than they imagined.