On a trip to the abandoned fairgrounds, Timothy Bellweather reminisces to his friend, Gourd, of the bygone years when the carnival was in town and he was a newlywed in his skipper hat, loitering at the snack bar with his wife. Shortly after this fond remembrance, though, the reality hits him where he lives (literally): Timothy and his wife, Helen, not only have a lifetime of vivid, happy memories in their hearts, but a house overflowing with the mementoes to prove it. And the day comes when the clutter reaches critical mass, along with Timothy’s patience for his wife’s collections, and an argument ignites. Should the couple simply toss all their souvenirs like an old hat with a hole, as Timothy insists, or should they keep them all close by for sentimental reasons and lose their living room, as Helen is content to do? The quarrel ends abruptly when their pet hermit creature, Ray, gets out of his cage and escapes to the umbrella forest, sending Timothy after him. Nimble Ray eludes capture as he scampers up a tree. Frustrated, Timothy suddenly remembers that hermit creatures can only be caught in hats, and his was left at home during the argument. Spying some old party favors on the ground, Timothy uncovers an old red cap with plume. Ray approves, and promptly falls into it. Having discovered the usefulness of even old hats, Timothy returns home, in a mind to compromise with his wife. They dance the Charleston, just as they used to, while their extra possessions launch themselves from the room. Indeed, there’s a room enough for both of them now, and it’s the museum they’ve built in the backyard, where they now house their memories (and clutter) to share them with delighted friends.