Measuring Up

Measuring Up
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Episode #	29
Air Date	June 1, 2002
Previous Episode	Forever Friends
Next Episode	Lost and Found

Measuring Up is the twenty-ninth episode of Timothy Goes to School.

Synopsis[]

Charles has started to grow, but he's reminded that he is still the smallest in his class when they do a project, and he feels discouraged. But he learns that size doesn't matter when it comes to being a good friend.

Plot[]

Charles is happy to realize he's grown since he was last measured, and he and his father celebrate this over breakfast. At school he proudly tells Lily, Yoko and Timothy when they play catch before class begins, and he's able to retrieve it. Initially they can't tell he's gotten taller, and once they head inside they check using the height chart inside.

Their excitement catches the attention of their classmates and Mrs. Jenkins, and they all measure themselves. She hasn't grown since her last height check, but she assures the students its fine because she is a grown-up who has reached the extent of height possible for herself. She won't get bigger. She is inspired to do an art project based on this, and she asks everyone to choose partners and trace themselves, then they will cut out the shape and decorate them however they want.

Everyone gets to work, with Charles and Lily tracing each other -both of whom laugh because it tickles- while Nora expresses disgust over how Fritz chose to do his. One of the Franks gets distracted and cuts his paper head off, but they fix it with tape. Once everyone finishes they step into the hallway to hang up their projects. They stand back to admire them when it gets pointed out that Nora is the shortest one in class, and this confuses her because Charles is smaller than her. She looks to see that his project was moved up a couple of inches on the wall so that both he and his model could be bigger. And she faces Charles and tells him that it is supposed to line up, match, and touch the ground with the others. (Well, it is lined up, but Charles feet are not lined up. His feet are a couple of inches on the wall.) Charles moves it back down (back on the line like everybody else's model) and correctly gets it to touch the ground. Then he gets saddened and confesseses that he intentionally did this. And Claude teases him until recess is called.

Charles remains depressed until Doris spots him and asks if he is okay. He asks her what its like to be so tall, but she points out that while she is the tallest in class, she is the smallest member of her family. She gets picked on too, and her brothers can do things she can't and it annoys her so much. Charles is surprised to hear this, and he assures her that he will stick up for Doris the next time they pick on her. She perks up and thanks him, and they tell off the paper Claude on the wall. With that, Doris invites Charles to hang out today after school.

At Doris' home, her mother informs them that she called his mom and she will be picking him up later. The two children decide to play basketball before dinner and have a lot of fun until Doris' brothers appear and steal the ball from them. They pick on the shorter duo and Charles keeps his promise by telling them that Doris isn't the shrimp they make her out to be, she's the tallest one in their class. It's then Doris' mother calls for her three boys and reminds them of the chores they had to get done. They are disappointed as they head inside, and Doris mentions that she likes being little when it comes to things like that. Charles agrees and they share a laugh before they resume playing.

Quotes[]

Nora: (to Charles) Hey...!
(Nora looks at Charles's figure and sees it is a few inches higher up so Charles could make himself bigger.)
Nora: (faces Charles) You are supposed to be touching the floor like everybody else's!
(Charles --quickly forgetting about his tactics about being big-- goes over to his model. Then he moves it back down. That is, so he and his craft figure lines up like all the others. Finally, he turns to the rest of the class.)
Charles: (confessing) Okay. I am the smallest.