While browsing through the family photo album, Lisa that there are no pictures of Maggie and asks for an explanation. Homer explains by recounting the story of Maggie's birth. Homer had received a paycheck that finally cleared him of all his debts. Overjoyed, he quit his job and insulted Mr. Burns. To make ends meet, he took a job at a local bowling ally, satisfying his lifelong dream. To celebrate his new life, Homer took Marge out for a night of romance.

Not long afterwords, Marge discovered that she was pregnant. She knew the news would end Homer's new lifestyle, and affect his happiness, because it meant that he could no longer support his family on his bowling ally salary. Marge kept her pregnancy a secret as long as she could, but Patty and Selma, eager to ruin Homer's life, spread the news throughout the town. When Homer found out, he was devastated.

Knowing he needed more money for his family, Homer quit his job at the bowling ally and returned to the power plant to ask for forgiveness. Mr. Burns gave him his job back, but soon Homer was once again unhappy at his work. The only thing that cheered him up was Maggie's birth. Homer explains that all of Maggie's baby pictures are on the wall of his work station.