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Original Airdate: 8/26/96
Mary helps Lucy get through the troubles of becoming a woman, while all Simon wants is a dog. Meanwhile, Eric and Matt have a heart to heart about smoking and getting a job. Annie learns her mother is dying of leukemia.
Sitting down for the family meal, 10-year-old Simon is anxious to say the blessing for the meal. In doing so, he asks God for the dog he's been wanting, explaining to Eric that God is dog spelled backwards. Mary asks Matt to help her with her foul shot after they are done eating. When Matt tells them he has plans to go on a date instead, Mary vents her frustration that she isn't allowed to go on dates with older guys. Lucy storms from the table when Eric compliments her on being so grown up.
After fixing the garbage disposal, Eric and Annie break up to consult the kids on their various problems. When Eric goes to talk to Lucy about growing up, he is surprised to see her standing on her head. When Lucy sees her father she screams and yells on her way to the bathroom where she slams the door. Meanwhile, Annie listens to Simon's pitch on getting a dog, but insists that he is not responsible enough.
When Matt goes to help Mary with her foul shot, Mary concedes that she really has a question about a guy. Mary asks Matt to show her how to kiss. Although Matt refuses at first, Matt tries to explain the mechanics of kissing when Eric comes around the corner and sees Mary preparing for a kiss.
Eric takes Matt to the pool hall and beats the son, which, according to their rules, means Matt has to have a father-son talk with Eric. Eric asks how Matt is paying for his new habit - smoking. Telling Matt that he found him a job, Eric insists that Matt pay for his cigarettes himself and not from his allowance. Reluctantly, Matt agrees to take the job.
The next day, the family goes to church and we find out that Eric is the local minister. Quoting from Ecclesiastes, Lucy runs out of the church crying. Annie later explains to Eric that she used The Byrds's song to explain to Lucy about growing up. After church, Mary invites Lucy to go jogging with her. While on the run, Mary runs into Jeff - Matt's friend and the boy she has a crush on. Mary invites Jeff over to help her with her foul shot.
Back at the house, Simon is talking to Eric about dog trivia while Eric gives Matt instructions on his new job. Matt will be helping a member of the church run errands. Before he leaves, Matt tells Eric he should probably have the talk about sex with Mary. On his way out, Matt meets up with Jeff, whom he warns to stay away from his sister.
When Matt arrives at his new job with Mrs. Bink, he is taken back to see an elderly woman with an oxygen mask on answer the door wheezing and coughing. Mrs. Bink invites Matt in and tells Matt to help her find her cigarettes, or give her his.
Meanwhile, the girls are celebrating Lucy's first period in the hallway when Eric comes up the stairs. Eric tells Lucy how proud he is and that maybe all the girls should go out to dinner tonight - his treat. Lucy smiles and asks Eric to go to the drug store tonight and get her a box of tampons.
Up in the attic, Simon has a birds-eye-view of the yard, still waiting for a dog to wander into the yard. When all hope is lost and Simon is about to give up, he hears a sharp bark. Suddenly perked up, Simon rushes down the stairs and outside to play with the cute pup.
Turns out the job that Eric got Matt was in fact a trick to convince Matt not to smoke anymore. Matt says he got fired, but Eric is more interested about the sudden appearance of the dog. When Matt gets to the door, Annie explains that she went to the pound to just look, but she found this cute little dog who was going to be put to sleep. Simon, thinking it's a miracle, continues playing with his new best friend. When Annie's parents come to the house from Arizona, they tell Eric and Annie some bad news. Annie's mother has been diagnoses with acute leukemia, and they have decided not to go through with the painful treatments. They tell Eric and Annie that they want her last days to be pain-free and with the ones she loves.