The Gold Cadillac

’Lois and her sister, Wilma, live in Toledo, Ohio, with their parents, Wilbert (Daddy) and Dee (Mother or Mother-Dear). Their neighborhood is filled with friends and relatives. The story opens on ’lois and Wilma playing outside when their father drives up in a gold Cadillac. Daddy directs them to tell their mother, and the two girls run inside with excitement, as shown in the illustration on page 10.

As Daddy talks about the car to the neighbors, ’lois and Wilma investigate the exciting interior. The crowd grows around the car, until Mother comes out and argues with her husband about why he purchased it. Pages 14-15 show the tension between Daddy and Mother, with ’lois and Wilma looking on.

Mother, who is clearly displeased with the car purchase, walks back inside the house. Daddy tries to play it off and lets ’lois, Wilma, and several relatives get in the car for a long drive. They visit local neighborhoods and then drive to Detroit.

When Daddy and the girls return home that evening, Mother is still angry. Her primary frustration is that they are trying to save to buy a nicer house, and the Cadillac is an expensive car that will keep them from achieving their goal.