A Kiss for Corliss

A teenage girl who has a crush on an older, more sophisticated man tells all her friends that the man is her boyfriend. That story soon starts making its way around the town. After a brief encounter with the romantic and thrice-divorced Kenneth Marquis, Corliss Archer decides to write in her diary that they are together in order to make her boyfriend Dexter jealous. Corliss' father had also served as attorney representing Kenneth Marquis' ex-wife during his most recent divorce trial. When Corliss and Dexter don't come home until five in the morning, Corliss pretends to have amnesia to avoid the inevitable punishment awaiting her. The Archers then read Corliss' diary to her to help her remember the things that were important to her. After reading that she was dating Kenneth Marquis, they send for Marquis, who, in order to irritate Mr. Archer, whom he loathes, says that it's all true, and even gives the newspapers the story that they're engaged. Corliss, whose charade ends then, tries to tell everyone what really happened, but by that time, no one will believe her. The matter is complicated by the fact that Corliss' uncle, a navy chaplain, comes to visit and offers to perform the ceremony. —mdschick