 June is distressed when a series of trades with school friends nets Beaver a pet rat and when Ward tells Beaver to get rid of the rodent, Beaver sells the rat to Violet Rutherford. But, in spite of Violet s protests, Fred Rutherford demands that Beaver refund Violet s money and take the rat back, unaware that another member of the Rutherford family has also developed an affection for the furry little guy.