Arnold J. Peppercorn really does try to stay out of trouble. It seems like mischief just won't leave him alone. Arnold J's best friend, George Spaghetti, can't seem to make Arnold J. understand that sometimes having a loud personality isn't such a good thing. A person might think after the Mulberry Dam accident, the theater caper and Mr. Quinn, the school principal, catching Arnold J. and George red handed that Arnold J. might learn to shut the door in the face of mischief. When Arnold J. pushes his luck too far, he learns that life brings us many lessons and he's about to learn the biggest lesson of all.