Thu, Mar 6, 1958
At the meeting, Laura is about to perform her song, but one note on the piano sounds very odd. Steve looks more deeply into the piano than anyone bothered to do during the hunt for the necklace, and he finds it. Laura apologizes to Annette (although not without making excuses for her suspicions), and asks if they can try to be friends. Annette agrees. Jet and Laura also resolve their differences, and the gang sings "Don't Jump to Conclusions". Laura is clearly the object of Drew's fascination, but she may have lost Steve to Jet, as they stick close together, as do Annette and Mike. When she gets home, Annette tells her family the happy news that her recent miseries are over, and she has a lunch date with Mike. They all head to the kitchen for warm milk.
Mon, Feb 10, 1958
Annette Funicello gets her own serial on the third and final year of "The Mickey Mouse Club". The serial was based on Janette Sebring Lowrey's 1950 book "Margaret" and was filmed between November and December, 1957. This was the first installment, although the day before, on February 10, 1958, there was a special introduction to the serial to get kids interested. Annette McCloud, an orphaned teenager from rural Nebraska, shows up on the doorstep of her Uncle Archie and Aunt Lila in the town of Ashford. Her father has just passed and she needs a place to stay, but the elders are initially suspicious of this shy but sweet girl.
Tue, Feb 18, 1958
Annette joins the others for dinner, and gets some favorable attention from Steve. Jealous Laura gives Steve a little push, making him spill a dessert on Annette's dress. Annette's escort Steady tells her they have to leave the party early, so they're not around when Laura discovers that her necklace is missing. Based on no good evidence, Laura voices her suspicions that Annette took it.
Mon, Feb 24, 1958
Steve tries to intervene with Annette about the necklace situation, but only makes matters worse when Laura spots them. A bit late, Steve realizes he just stood her up. Steady causes an explosion in the school chem lab, and sets out with Kitty for the healing powers of the malt shop. Jet invites herself to Annette's for dinner On their arrival Jet gets into a conversation with her dad's old friend, Uncle Archie.
Tue, Feb 25, 1958
Aunt Lila is unhappy with Annette's continued preference for Jet over Val's crowd, as she knows nothing about the problems Laura is causing. Uncle Archie and Annette make a date with Jet to visit her family's ranch next Saturday. Jet again tries to get Annette to show more backbone in dealing with Laura. Steve and Mike both invite Annette on the gang's hayride and barbecue, but it's also on Saturday. Annette declines, as she refuses to disappoint Uncle Archie.
Thu, Feb 20, 1958
Jet tries to get Annette to be more confrontational with Laura, Val tries to play peacemaker, and Aunt Lila tries to steer Annette away from Jet and toward Val's crowd, but none of them have much success. Annette is made sophomore entertainment chairman (sic - it's the 50s) and asks Jet to be her assistant.
Sun, Feb 16, 1958
Annette may regret going to the party with Olmstead Ware: he doesn't have a car, though Annette insists she likes walking, and he talks her into stopping by the local malt shop first--for his daily sugar rush. Annette likes the handsome soda-jerk, Mike Martin, but is dismayed that he won't be at the party. When the couple finally arrives at Val's house, most of the gang has already paired up for dances out on the patio. Kitty Blalock, who has a crush on "Steady" (and matches him in height!), isn't happy that he brought a girl with him, but everyone appears to like and welcome Annette...except for piano-playing Laura Rogan, who catches Steve smiling at Annette and immediately begins to pick the new girl apart. Annette, too polite to do anything but go along, finds herself stuck playing a game of Spin the Bottle, and forced into singing a song.
Wed, Feb 26, 1958
Annette goes ahead with the ranch visit with Uncle Archie, despite even Jet trying to talk her into taking the hayride instead. On the way, uncle and niece suffer a flat tire, and while fixing it they spot the hay wagon full of singing teens. Uncle Archie learns what Annette has given up rather than let him down.
Sun, Feb 23, 1958
At the first meeting of the entertainment committee, Laura criticizes some of Steve's appointments, especially of Annette. This gets her nowhere with Steve and Val, but eventually drives Annette away. Mike follows her and convinces her to stick with the committee and ignore Laura's snide remarks. Later, Steve finds Jet and personally requests that she be Annette's assistant. Jet, who thought Steve unaware of her existence, is pleasantly surprised to learn that he likes her. Steady suggests that he, Steve, and Drew try reasoning with Laura, but this fails miserably.