 Things go missing from the Corbett household: Tom s belt, his gold cuff-links and Mrs. Livingston s kitchen timer. Eddie admits that he took them, as he is somewhat proud to announce that he has joined a gang, led by older kid Mark, of whom Eddie is in awe. Mark dictates to the gang of younger kids that they steal things from stores, but since Eddie was uncomfortable doing that, he decided to take things from home, telling the other kids that he stole them from stores. Tom is obviously upset with Eddie s conduct, explaining that stealing is an illegal act and is morally wrong. Tom tells Eddie that he is responsible for those items taken, meaning that he either has to get them back or else pay for them out of his allowance. When Eddie tells Mark he won t steal anymore, Mark kicks him out of the gang, but not before Eddie becomes the victim of theft himself at the hands of Mark, namely Eddie s major school project which Mark turns in as his own. Because he was punished at school for failing to turn in his project, Eddie stands up to Mark, putting him down front of the others and retrieving those items he stole from Tom and Mrs. Livingston. But Eddie finds out who his true friends are, when the other kids in the gang also dump Mark and return to being friends with Eddie.