Dad's Dessert Dilemma

Summary
Dad volunteers to cater a school party. Knowing Dad's dessert "experiments," Arthur fears the worst.

Plot
David is working on a special cooking project for the Reads' family. He shows them cinnamon toast soufflé, which he notices that getting them out of the toaster is a struggle. He also realizes that his cooking experiments have been misunderstood. During dessert, he brings out some pudding balls. While Arthur and the rest of the family are watching TV, David brings out "Cranberry Prune Crumble", which is a shortcake with cranberries and prunes. Arthur doesn't like broken-up food, but Jane tries it and likes it. David realizes that disagreeing with the inventions are worth it. He offers a volunteer to taste one of his cooking projects. Arthur arrives, but he shortly leaves.

Title Card

One day at school, Mr. Ratburn teaches Arthur and the class about the physicist Galileo Galilei, who invented the first astronomical telescope in 1609. He tells the class that tomorrow is his birthday, and the class will celebrate by studying his theory about the solar system. Binky suggests a party, Mr. Ratburn agrees. Brain decides to bring ice cream, Francine decides to bring cake, and Arthur decides to bring chocolate chip cookies. Mr. Ratburn announces that 5 questions will be cut from the quiz about Galileo. Buster tells Arthur that he wishes that peanut brittle would have been brought instead.

When Arthur comes home, he announces to Jane about Galileo's birthday, but Jane tells Arthur that she has a few business deadlines she is attempting to keep track of. David notices this and decides to bake Arthur something. Arthur wonders if there won't be anything weird. David is puzzled, but decides to give up on the conversation and check on muffins he is making. Arthur is disappointed and Jane tells him that there will be something unique (i.e. the clue).

Later that day, David reveals Arthur's surprise; Honey cake in the shape of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Arthur thought he would bring cookies instead of the unique cake itself. However, he thanks David for the cake. When David drives to school, Arthur has a bad dream - some of Arthur's friends and Mr. Ratburn refuse to eat the cake and drops Arthur's science grade to a D. Cut back to the present, when Arthur arrives at his school, he sees his friends having the party. He brings in the cake and hides it with a book. Francine compliment's Brain's mom's ice cream, Buster agrees and asks Arthur if he did bring something. Arthur gets terrified when Mr. Ratburn uncovers the cake, he cuts a piece, and then actually thinks it's delicious, making him impressed. Arthur's friends want some as well. Ms. Sweetwater comes in and Mr. Ratburn convinces her to try the cake. She does and likes it as well. Arthur tells her that David can make it without any issue and Ms. Sweetwater compliments him.

Arthur tells his parents about the cake and says that it was the most popular one of all. David is impressed as Arthur was about to say about Ms. Sweetwater and the class sing-along, and David agrees with the future plan. D.W. is jealous about this and thinks that it's against the law. David decides to make D.W. a cake for her school as well.

The next day, Arthur sees Ms. Sweetwater's class eating cake. Mr. Ratburn goes to drop off an important letter. Arthur sees the class enjoying his cake when Francine catches him honoring the class. Mr. Ratburn returns and tells the class about spring reading. Mr. Ratburn shortly leaves again to have a piece of cake. Arthur realizes that everyone liked his cake, the same manner.

When Arthur comes home, he tells David about making another dessert for a band recital. Arthur tells David that performers need the kind of energy from sugar. David sees some important orders, Arthur pleads David for another dessert and tells him that he's the most popular and also 20 members in Arthur's band. Jane sees Arthur walking out and says to David that he's getting carried away with the idea. David also remembers the time Arthur wasn't able to taste the "chocolate-dipped ham". David thinks he could cope with making a few more desserts. That night, David is making the desserts and notices one type of frosting that tastes disgusting.

The next day, Buster tells Arthur that the cake was the best dessert. Mr. Ratburn comes in and notices cake inside, he grabs a plate and serves himself a piece. Francine compliments Arthur as being "the popular kid in school". Arthur goes down the hallway and some students high five him about the cake. Arthur tells Fern about bringing in a cake for her upcoming birthday. Arthur eventually tells Francine and Sue Ellen about making a cake to give Jane a call.

When school is out, Arthur is about to get on his bike while Binky states that ice cream is the best dessert in the world. Arthur is shocked. At home, Arthur wants to make sure David is home because of Brain. Jane thinks that David does like to do the things for Arthur. However, she asks Arthur if it is fair to do more work. Arthur disagrees and decides to wait awhile and ignore the problems. Jane kisses him.

Arthur has waited awhile (literally), and goes into the garage to see David talking to Ed Crosswire about being behind schedule due to having a cake being made and everything will be done in two hours. Ed hopes that it is a promise. Ed says if it didn't work he would have to take the business somewhere else. D.W. is worried to see a disappointed Arthur, who says that David's business has been behind with all the cakes being made. D.W. realizes that there would be no money left to pay off the mortgage off their house and become homeless. Arthur says that Dad was actualy referring to Mr. Crosswire. D.W. wants the paper thrown away. The two have tug-of-war over the note until David arrives. They stop fighting and D.W. tells David that Arthur ruined David's business. Arthur apologizes about the work and David tells him that it's actually alright. He recommends Arthur to be asked rather than telling him in a mean manner. David then explains about families cooperating each other like a respectful family. David decides to get help from Arthur, who agrees. D.W. agrees to help as well. After the volunteer work has been done for David, the food is placed on a wagon being pulled by Pal. Dishes are washed, and D.W. is sifting flour. Later, after all the volunteer work was done, the desserts were done and Arthur and D.W. are exhausted. David tells them that there is another cake for the family.

The next day school, Mr. Ratburn offers Arthur about spring reading and then asks Arthur about cake. Cut to another scene which happens later on the same day, Ed leaves with a cake steaming and smells some brownie cake. Mr. Ratburn goes behind him, following him and starts willing to try the cake.

Trivia

 * Arthur mentioned that Fern's birthday was "coming up", meaning that her birthday is shortly after February 15th, Galileo's birthday; unless he was mistaken.

Errors

 * Prunella was seen in Mr. Ratburn's class when she is in the 4th grade.
 * Galileo's birthday is February 15, and there are no Valentine's Day decorations leftover in the hallways from yesterday. Also, there is no snow on the ground outside, despite Elwood City being a city that gets snow in the winter.
 * When Arthur looks at the clock, it says, 6:50, but Mr. Crosswire says it's 4:00.

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