Butters, a nineteen-year-old in the Navy, meets Laura, a typist, and they begin to date. Laura plays a game of guessing who's Jewish, but Butters, who doesn't know many Jewish people, doesn't enjoy the game. A few months into their relationship, Laura tells Butters she's pregnant. She tells him she thinks they should get married, but Butters suddenly realizes he has no desire to marry. One night, Butters comes over to Laura's house where she lives with her mother. When they tell Laura's mother, Mrs. Lippman, about the baby, she is appalled, but Butters officially decides he won't marry Laura. Laura is sent away to a ranch for unwed mothers while Butters continues his training in the Navy. Mrs. Lippman wants Butters to pay her $300 for Laura's stay, but he doesn't have the money and avoids her at all costs. Finally, she shows up at the Naval Base and speaks to a priest about Butters. The priest insists Butters pay the $300 and makes him sign a contract. He pays the first few months, but is deployed to Okinawa and stops sending the money until one of his majors receives a letter about it. Butters takes out a loan and finally pays Mrs. Lippman back. A few months later, he receives a letter from Laura. She tells him about the baby and that she's giving the boy up for adoption. Some forms waiving his parental rights arrive in the mail and Butters signs them without much thought.