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Original Airdate: 10/14/96
Simon and Ruthie are eating their breakfast while they watch morning cartoons on television when Simon starts flipping through channels with the remote. When Ruthie complains, Simon stops and just happens to land on a channel reporter a church fire. Simon sees the reporter interview Morgan Hamilton, a friend of Eric's, and goes to tell his Dad who is immediately concerned.
At his Sunday sermon, Eric invites Morgan to bring his congregation to worship with his until their church is rebuilt and this whole incident is behind them. Eric expresses his anger to his congregation who likewise are outraged. Morgan then takes the pulpit and expresses his gratefulness for the caring and understanding provided by Eric and tells everyone present not to fight hate with hate.
After church, both families retreat to the Camden;s where everyone is a little uncomfortable. After several failed attempts to start a conversation, the Camden kids leave the Hamilton's alone in the living room.
Up in the kids room, the youngest pairs of siblings are the only ones who seem to be getting along. Simon asks Nigel why he thinks someone burned down his father's church - to which Nigel replies "because they are the bad guys."
The four parents begin preparing dinner in the kitchen - while trying to make Eric feel like he is doing something to help. Eric urges Annie and Patricia to go for a walk and that gives Eric the opportunity to try and get Morgan to talk about what has happened. Morgan tells Eric the arsonist left a note saying he would be back and Eric decides he and Morgan will go stay at Morgan's house, while Morgan's family will stay with the Camdens.
In the living room, Lucy pulls the salt on butter trick on Simon and Simon immediately wipes it on his good Sunday pants. Mary and John are out behind the house shooting some hoops when Matt tells John to take his anger out on someone else besides his sister. It is obvious the two aren't getting along too well.
Both families come together for the Sunday meal when they tell the kids about the new living arrangements. John is a little upset but accepts the situation. Before eating, Nigel asks to say the blessing where he asks God to please stop the fires.
The next morning, Lucy comes out of the house with her hair in dreadlocks - shocking everybody. The Hamiltons all squeeze into the front seat, refusing to sit in the back, which causes Lucy to proudly tell what she knows about Rosa Parks. On the school playground, Simon and Nigel are playing war when a bully takes an action figure from Nigel and throws it on the ground saying he is dead. When Simon resurrects the fallen hero, the bully calls Nigel a name and Simon punches him in the stomach - causing him to immediately get suspended. Matt, John, Mary and Lucy arrive at Simon's school to pick up Simon and Nigel and are harassed by a security guard.
With Simon sent to his room, Eric tries hard not to be proud of Simon for sticking up for Nigel. Annies says she agrees but they must still find some kind of punishment for Simon. Outside, Matt and John clear the air when Matt tells John it's not the color of John's skin that scares him - it's John's attitude.
After another day at the Camdens, with the families getting along fine, Morgan says he has a security system installed in the house so they can all go home. He tells Eric that he wants to start holding his worship services on the old property starting next Sunday to start the healing process. At the service, with only the blue sky above him, Morgan raises his hands and repeats Nigel's plea:
"Please, God. Stop the fires."