Oscar Churchmouse wants to be helpful but no matter how hard he tries he feels like a failure. Once when he cleaned the kitchen floor of crumbs, the church ladies chased after him and tried to hit him. He grew sad and discouraged. It is not until Oscar becomes friends with Patty Sue that he feels accepted and beautiful in his own skin.

George is embarrassed because he looks different from the other fish. He wants to hide until he learns that the other fish really don't care. Finally he realizes that he is proud of himself... looking different.