Ordeal by cheque

Lawrence Exeter and his girlfriend, Daisy Windsor are overly excited for their new addition to the family. They are going to have a baby boy! Lawrence is thrilled and immediatly spends a fortune on new baby clothes and toys. The new baby boy, Lawrence Junior, is born on October 3rd, 1903, healthy and happy. Lawrence and Daisy are overjoyed and celebrate the Junior's birth. By the time Junior turns six years old, Lawrence enrolls him in Palisades School for boys. Junior met some kids who liked to ride bikes after school. So, Junior begged his father to buy him a bike. Lawrence gives in and decides to surpirse Junior with a brand new bike he purchased at the "City Bicycle Co."

Junior grows up to be a trouble maker and "up to no good" in high school. He becomes part of different gangs and Lawrence knows that it is up to him to put a stop to Junior's nonsense. Lawrence had enough of it and decides to send Junior to the Military Academy. When Junior returns home a couple years later, Lawrence surprises him with a brand new cadillac. Junior promises to never get into trouble again and takes the car out for a drive. Later that day, Lawrence recieves a phone call from Junior telling his father that he crashed his car. Lawrence his furious but still pays money to the "Wilshire Auto Repair Service," to get the brand new car fixed.

October rolls around, and Junior has gone off to College, only to find himself falling in love with a girl he had met at a football game. Her name was Sarah and the two got married the following year. For Daisy's birthday, Lawrence buys plane tickets for the two to go on a romantic trip to France. When in France, Lawrence takes Daisy to a French clothing store, "Bangue de France," and spends $5,000 on brand new clothes for her. The couple leave their wonderful time in France to go back home at the end of summer. Lawrence knows that Daisy is the one for him, so he decides to ask for her hand in marriage. He buys her a wedding ring at the "Beverly Diamond and Gift Shoppe," and plans to propose in Hawaii. Therefore, Lawrence spends money to take a steamship for him and Daisy to go to Hawaii. Lawrence asks Daisy on a romantic dinner and she says yes! The couple are in love and couldnt be happier. The two get back from Hawaii and immediatly start shopping for their big day.

While all the excitment is going on, Junior meets another women, Miss Flossie Wentworth, in the supermarket and immediatly falls in love with her. Junior treats her like a princess by buying her chocolates, dresses, and jewlery. Junior knows that Sarah will be torn apart if she ever found up about his secret relationship, so he gives Flossie money every now and then to keep her quiet. One night, Junior goes to a bar called the "Tony Spagoni," and develops a horrible drinking and gambling habit. From then on, Junior seems to always find himself spending money on beer. Junior gets caught by Flossie at the bar and she immediatly leaves him. Junior couldnt let Flossie go, so he wins her back with flowers and vows to never touch a drop of alcohol as long as he lives. Flossie accepts his apology.

Junior has made the decision to tell Sarah about his affair. He is tired of having to keep Flossie a secret and asks her to marry him. When Sarah finds out, she throws Junior out of the house and immediatly files for divorce. Junior becomes stressed out and with all the commotion going on, he finds himself at the bar drinking that night. At the bar, Junior recieves a phone call that his father had a heart attack. he immediatly rushes to the hopsital, but he is too late. Lawrence died that night. Junior is devistated. Junior and Flossie plan the funeral. A year later, Junior gets the courage to get help for his drinking habits. Everything seemed to fall into place from that day on.

Lindsay Bonacci