Oskar Can't Read?

Oskar Can't Read? is an episode in the Hey Arnold! TV Series.

Synopsis

Oskar is fed up with the troubles of being illiterate, and with Arnold's help, learns how to read.

Plot

During dinner, Ernie asks Oskar to pass the salt, but he passes the pepper instead. The mailman asks Oskar to sign the paper but he makes up an excuse saying he’s busy. Grandpa asks Oskar to read the recipe while he cooks, Oskar says the onion (which is far from him) prevents him from seeing the words.

Oskar holds the fish bowl water and asks Arnold to help him open this aspirin. Ernie and Mr. Hyunh begin teasing Oskar for being illiterate. Ernie makes a bet of twenty bucks that Oskar can’t learn to read and Mr. Hyunh makes a bet of fifty bucks.

Arnold teachers Oskar to read. Oskar asks his wife to fill out the spelling worksheet for him. Oskar gives some chocolate to coerce Chocolate Boy to read A Tale of Two Cities for him until he can memorize it. Oskar reads A Tale of Two Cities in front of the boarders. Ernie gives Oskar the book War and Peace and demands him to read it. Oskar recites the same passage he memorized; exposing his cheating ways. Arnold and his neighbors are disgusted with Oskar's lies. A kid asks Oskar to read the map for him. Oskar walks on the street sadly.

Oskar asks Arnold to teach him to read. Oskar reads a children's book called Pet the Kitty for the kids at the library. Arnold gives Oskar a map and challenges him to use the map to get back to the boarding house. Oskar gets lost in the subway and he sits down and sees a kitty resembling the one from the book he just read and takes it with him. Oskar recalls that since he can read that children's book, then he has the ability to find his way home. Oskar returns home and surprises the other boarders that he can now read well. The episode then ends with all the boarders shouting at Oskar as he pets the kitty so they can get some sleep.