Summary

Things are moving fast in Elmwood Springs and the older town folk are complaining about it. The town gets a bus stop and a beauty salon. Ida Jenkins, sister of Elner Shimfissle, is a perfectionist, and this weighs heavily on her daughter, Norma. When Pearl Harbor happens, the whole town is very sad, and all the young men - including Gene Nordstrom - are shipped off to war. Gene joins the marines.

Gene is stationed in San Francisco for a while before he is shipped to Japan. When Gene is out with his friends, he meets a beautiful woman at the perfume counter in one of the department stores. After a valiant effort (and after he has sent many of his female relatives boxes of perfume), she, Marion, finally agrees to go out with him. They get married...