The story revolves around Jeffy, a child who likes to dress up as a lion and act like one. His father and Marvin try to discipline him and get him to behave, but Jeffy continues to cause trouble. Meanwhile, a news report announces that a lion has escaped from the zoo and attacked a child, and a reward is offered for its capture. The father claims to have caught the lion, but it is later revealed that the "lion" is actually Jeffy in his costume. The story takes a turn when the father realizes he may have accidentally turned in his own son to be executed by firing squad. He rushes to save Jeffy just in time, and the story ends with the family reflecting on the wacky events of the day. Throughout the story, there are also subplots involving Chef Pee Pee's meat, pink eye, and catnip.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. A lion escapes from the local zoo and attacks a child at a park.
2. The lion is later found and deemed too dangerous to keep alive.
3. The lion is scheduled to be euthanized by firing squad the next day.
4. Marvin claims to have caught the lion and will be paid for it.
5. Jeffy, a child, is playing outside while wearing a lion costume.
6. Jeffy's parents try to get him to come inside because of the loose lion.
7. Chef Pee Pee has a steak that he was preparing to eat.
8. The steak goes missing, and Chef Pee Pee accuses the others of taking it.
9. Jeffy is found to have taken the steak and is grounded.
10. Marvin tries to give Jeffy's mother a back massage.
11. Jeffy's mother asks Marvin to help Jeffy with his homework.
12. Jeffy's hand gets injured, and his father threatens to press charges.
13. Marvin talks to a doctor about Jeffy's father's pink eye.
14. The doctor explains that pink eye can be caused by getting fecal particles in the eye.
15. Jeffy's father remembers that he didn't wash his hands after wiping himself.
16. Marvin realizes that the "lion" he caught was actually Jeffy.
17. Marvin and Jeffy's father come up with a plan to save Jeffy from being executed.
18. They use catnip to distract the people who are about to execute Jeffy.
19. Marvin saves Jeffy just in time, and they return home.