When Ben accidentally is given the wrong change ($100 instead of a $10 bill) from the cashier at Toppers, he pockets the money. Ben is deep in thought about the $100 on the way home when his mom hits a darting cat in road. They take the injured, scruffy cat to the vet at Ben's insistence and decide to go ahead with surgery. While waiting for word on the cat, Ben again returns to thoughts of the money. Should he buy a much desired new soccer ball? Tell his mom what happened? Help pay for the cat's surgery?



Events unfold quickly. Ben confides in his friend Nate, just as the vet calls to announce that surgery was successful. Ben argues with his mom about keeping the cat. Gwen, a waitress at Toppers, arrives. She is the girlfriend of Ben's older brother Conner. During supper, she tells the family that the hostess was fired for stealing money. Ben begins to regret his decision to pocket the money, but is afraid to tell his mother.



In the end, they bring home the cat, Ben decides to give the $100 bill to his mom for the surgery and explain what happened. Mom connects the money with the cashier's mistake at Toppers, and explains that it must be returned. She thanks Ben for his humane decision about the cat, now named Goldenrod. They are optimistic that the cat is a stray and will likely become a family pet.