What is the main conflict in In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd?

Ralph Parker is the main character in this collection of humorous short stories. Known simply as Ralph, he appears in every story. As the narrator, he allows the reader to experience Ralph's life as both an adult, a child of various ages, and a teenage boy. He explains his own thoughts and introduces the town of Hohman. As a Midwestern boy growing up in the Depression era, Ralph enjoys a simple, ordinary life (although his stories and his imagination might imply otherwise.)