NO PUNISHMENT! In this episode Mary Ellen found a valuable ring in a used purse she bought from her local junk man friend. However, despite knowing who the ring belonged to, Mary Ellen wanted to keep the it long enough to wear to a college dance to impress her date along with others at the dance before returning the ring to it's rightful owner, who had told Mary Ellen's parents how much the ring meant to her! This decision led Mary Ellen down a path of deceit and out and out lies! Her stunt ended up causing trouble for others she involved helping her find the ring after losing it at the dance. The worst was John Boy's date, Audrey Butler, was caught by the campus guard crawling out of the auditorium girls' bathroom with the ring after John Boy had asked the campus guard if he could unlock the door so they could look for the it, but was told the auditorium was locked and no student was allowed in the building until Monday morning. The violation cost the Audrey to lose her opportunity to be in a sorority. Mary Ellen didn't even express any concern for the girl, who was only trying to help her find the ring; which I found pathetic! Before Mary Ellen returned with the ring her mom was conveniently told by Martha Rose, Mary Ellen's chief rival, that she had seen Mary Ellen at the dance wearing a beautiful ring. Mary Ellen had been found out, yet her father told Mary Ellen she had already been through enough and he wasn't going to punish her! All she had been through? It was more like everything Mary Ellen had put everyone else through who tried to help her, and cover for her deceit and lies! Mary Ellen's mom asked her if she had learned something from this, and when Mary Ellen told her yes, the only punishment she was given was to learn 5 Bible verses. What? I believe Mary Ellen's parents demonstrated poor parenting skills in this episode, and that was so disappointing. In real life I doubt that a child who pulled such a stunt would not have been punished quite severely, and rightfully so!