St. Boniface Vikings (Part 1)

When Fran Failed

Fran invites the Smiths over for a barbecue. Initially, the entire family attends. However, once he smells the food cooking, he quickly reconsiders. Fran then invites Nolan to pull a wishbone with him, for the chance of getting a wish granted. Nolan initially struggles to think of something suitable to wish for, but, as for a long time he has shown a lot of resentment for Fran's material success while he is struggling to provide for his own family, Nolan starts to think of a way to get back at Fran. Nolan does win the wishbone pull, and Jeanne curiously asks what Nolan has wished for, but Fran insists it won't come true if divulged.

In a side plot, after a lecture from Marva Lynn about exercise, Kevin asks to take karate lessons. While taking him on his first day, Nolan gets his first look at Fran's new store. Business doesn't seem to be going very well, which pleases Nolan. On his first lesson, Kevin finds that karate isn't what he thought it would be, having been given Sun Tzu's Art of War to study before techniques, and takes to the arcade to play karate video games during his following lessons, merely pretending he is actually learning karate.

Soon after, Fran begins to experience financial hardship as a result of his failing business venture. Rather than helping him, Nolan buys most of Fran's belongings at a garage sale at "fire sale" prices. Eventually, Fran loses his store and is forced to close, and has his house repossessed.

On the school playground the next day, Freddy, Larry and J.B. antagonize Lisa by playing keep-away with her saxophone, and she calls upon Kevin to defend her with his martial arts skills. Predictably he gets pummeled, but at least the bullies then return Lisa's sax. The principal suspends the three bullies.

Fran is actually thankful for Nolan's words at the barbecue, as Fran believes that Nolan was genuinely trying to warn him against high-risk ventures such as starting a business. Stricken with guilt, Nolan decides to take it upon himself to save Fran. The next day, Fran arrives to find the store full of people happily buying the merchandise. This helps Fran make the money he needs to save his house. Although Paul, Grady, Ed, Bill, Mick, Roy, Fred and Karl were exciting about Fran's new store.