The latest object of Dobie's affections is the very patriotic Betsy Dolly Martha Trueblood, who is named after three of the most famous women in American political history. She won't give Dobie the time of day because she feels he doesn't care or know enough about his country. The only way he can prove to her to her satisfaction that he has an interest in and knowledge about the subject is to take Dr. Burkhart's American History class, which will be no easy task as Dr. Burkhart is known as a tough teacher who in turn knows Dobie. However, Dr. Burkhart will let both Dobie and Maynard enroll in her class if they can pass the entrance exam to be taken immediately. Knowing nothing about American history, Dobie devises a way to cheat so that he and Maynard can pass the exam. His plan involves a fake case of appendicitis, and a myna bird. The plan doesn't come off quite as Dobie envisions, but the plan may unwittingly still work because of animal loving Maynard.
—Huggo