Beaver won't eat his Brussel sprouts at dinner so he tries spreading them around, and when that doesn't work, he pops them in his shirt pocket. Unfortunately, June catches him. June is insistent, Beaver will sit at the table until the sprouts are gone. Ward tries to argue Beaver's side but June is relentless. Beaver says he doesn't like Brussel Sprouts. Ward offers to punish Beaver by sending him to his room; but June wants Ward to talk to Beaver. Ward tries logic and fails; so June offers an ultimatum: eat the sprouts or you don't go the football game tomorrow. Ward believes June is being far too drastic.
Eddie stops by to pick up a book from Wally, and tells Beaver he has rights. Eddie figures that Ward and June will eventually break down, Beaver just has to stick to his guns. But June even tells Wally that she is serious; no eaten sprouts, no football game.
The next morning June is sticking to her guns, and is planning to call Mrs. Bronson to sit for Beaver. Ward tells June she better call her soon because Mrs. Bronson is a popular sitter, and if she isn't available then Beaver will have to come along to the game. Ward offers a possible compromise, if Beaver promises to eat the sprouts the next time sprouts are served then Beaver can come to the game. Beaver doesn't want to make a promise that he feels he can't keep. But Ward says he is sure that Beaver will live up to a promise. Problem solved.
Before going to the game, the family stops at a restaurant and when dinner is served, it comes with Brussel sprouts. The waitress offers to exchange the sprouts for carrots or peas, but June says Beaver promised. Other patrons are taking Beaver's side. Why is June bullying the sweet little boy? Even the manager of the restaurant comes over with an exchange. June is adamant, even in the face of growing antagonism Beaver ties to eat one and swallows it after Wally pats him on the back. After getting the first one down, Beaver finds the sprouts aren't that bad and he eats the all. Problem solved. Whew! When Beaver gets home, he apologizes for making such a fuss. Beaver says he knows that parents make kids do things for their kids own good; and Beaver promises he won't make the mistake of not listening again and won't disobey ever. Ward feels that will be a tough thing for Beaver to do; because, Ward admits, that even parents sometimes make mistakes. Beaver is really impressed that Ward can make such an admission; Beaver thinks that that is actually pretty neat.
The resolution in the restaurant is too pat. It would have just been politic to allow Beaver to exchange the sprouts for a different vegetable. Beaver could have met the promise by eating the sprouts the next time they were served at home. June could have stretched the point and still be held harmless. No doubt the writers had a different plan and were out to make parents happy with you don't know if you don't like something unless you at least try it. As a parent, I applaud that; but the kid in me still murmurs sellout.
In my youth, I objected to eating two things: Brussel sprouts (they had a bitter aftertaste I loathed) and pea soup (It made me gag). One evening we were served pea soup and I couldn't get it down. My mother became so enraged that she picked up the bowl and quite literally plopped it upside down on my head. There I was crying with soup pouring down all over me. To his day, I can't abide pea soup. I have learned to like Brussel sprouts; if they have a large bit of a bacon wrapped around them.
P.S. Science is on Beaver's side. " Brussels sprouts are bitter, and kids generally don't like bitter tastes. It's not their fault. Researchers say that an aversion to bitter and sour (generally a heightened gag reflex) is a survival instinct, since most toxins taste that way too." See, I was right all along on Brussel spouts.
Eddie stops by to pick up a book from Wally, and tells Beaver he has rights. Eddie figures that Ward and June will eventually break down, Beaver just has to stick to his guns. But June even tells Wally that she is serious; no eaten sprouts, no football game.
The next morning June is sticking to her guns, and is planning to call Mrs. Bronson to sit for Beaver. Ward tells June she better call her soon because Mrs. Bronson is a popular sitter, and if she isn't available then Beaver will have to come along to the game. Ward offers a possible compromise, if Beaver promises to eat the sprouts the next time sprouts are served then Beaver can come to the game. Beaver doesn't want to make a promise that he feels he can't keep. But Ward says he is sure that Beaver will live up to a promise. Problem solved.
Before going to the game, the family stops at a restaurant and when dinner is served, it comes with Brussel sprouts. The waitress offers to exchange the sprouts for carrots or peas, but June says Beaver promised. Other patrons are taking Beaver's side. Why is June bullying the sweet little boy? Even the manager of the restaurant comes over with an exchange. June is adamant, even in the face of growing antagonism Beaver ties to eat one and swallows it after Wally pats him on the back. After getting the first one down, Beaver finds the sprouts aren't that bad and he eats the all. Problem solved. Whew! When Beaver gets home, he apologizes for making such a fuss. Beaver says he knows that parents make kids do things for their kids own good; and Beaver promises he won't make the mistake of not listening again and won't disobey ever. Ward feels that will be a tough thing for Beaver to do; because, Ward admits, that even parents sometimes make mistakes. Beaver is really impressed that Ward can make such an admission; Beaver thinks that that is actually pretty neat.
The resolution in the restaurant is too pat. It would have just been politic to allow Beaver to exchange the sprouts for a different vegetable. Beaver could have met the promise by eating the sprouts the next time they were served at home. June could have stretched the point and still be held harmless. No doubt the writers had a different plan and were out to make parents happy with you don't know if you don't like something unless you at least try it. As a parent, I applaud that; but the kid in me still murmurs sellout.
In my youth, I objected to eating two things: Brussel sprouts (they had a bitter aftertaste I loathed) and pea soup (It made me gag). One evening we were served pea soup and I couldn't get it down. My mother became so enraged that she picked up the bowl and quite literally plopped it upside down on my head. There I was crying with soup pouring down all over me. To his day, I can't abide pea soup. I have learned to like Brussel sprouts; if they have a large bit of a bacon wrapped around them.
P.S. Science is on Beaver's side. " Brussels sprouts are bitter, and kids generally don't like bitter tastes. It's not their fault. Researchers say that an aversion to bitter and sour (generally a heightened gag reflex) is a survival instinct, since most toxins taste that way too." See, I was right all along on Brussel spouts.
