Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby's Is a Friend of Mine

A stranger arrives in a small town and signs into the local hotel as Charles Dickens. The town's children, particularly a boy named Ralph, embrace this possibility. Even though the adults recognize the fraud, they indulge the fantasy, allowing Ralph and the man to share adventures and stories, including a memorable meeting with Emily Dickinson. The story ultimately serves as a homage to Charles Dickens and his novel Nicholas Nickleby.