[1] Janet feels that her parents no longer love her because they made her older sister the definite center of attention during her aunt's visit.

After naming off potential candidates, they decide on the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Mary Jones and escort Janet to their home.

A neighbor boy who witnesses the exchange runs to the Burstons' house and inadvertently reports that Janet was kidnapped by a gang whose leader has a heavy voice (referring to Froggy).

They agree to adopt her but make her life a living hell by forcing her to scrub the kitchen floor (which causes Janet to wail, "Why did I ever leave home?")

While trying to cook some food (a handful of potatoes), they burn them and create heavy smoke, which leaves their faces covered with soot and ashes.