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Original Airdate: 10/20/97
The afternoon mail brings bad news for Matt when he opens a letter from Heather, but quickly realizes it was not what he expected. In the letter, she tells Matt that she has found someone by where she goes to school and she thinks she is in love. Not believing the girl of his dreams is slipping away from him, Matt takes matters into his own hands. He first goes to Ruthie and Simon to ask if they have any money – promising to pay them back with interest. Ruthie gives Matt a few bucks, and Simon digs into his drawer and pulls out $86. Mary and Lucy are basically unhelpful with their two dollars total. Matt goes to the airport but is only able to buy a plane ticket to Indianapolis.Lucy tries to get through her homework but is totally distracted by Mary and Willson smooching on the couch. Not being able to take it anymore, she goes into the kitchen to tell her parents, and is further upset by seeing them kissing as well. She manages to interrupt them and tells them that Mary and Wilson have not come up for air in half an hour.
Simon gets a phone call from his friend, Nigel, who tells Simon that as of today, Simon is the only kid in the 6th grade who doesn't have a girlfriend – since he just found one, Myra. Simon can't believe his best friend would do that to him. Nigel tells Simon to call a girl at the school, Cheryl, and ask her to go steady.. before someone else does. Simon picks up the phone and dials her number but is tongue-tied when she answers the phone. Ruthie offers to call her for him but Simon is not amused.
Eric interrupts Wilson and Mary's … quality time together and Wilson apologizes and offers to leave – which angers Mary. She tells Wilson to stop acting like someone's dad and to start acting like her boyfriend. Unfortunately, as Wilson reminds her, he IS someone's father, and he understands where Eric is coming from.
Matt calls the house and talks to Annie and tells her the situation. Annie doesn't quite know what to say, but Matt tells her not to worry and he will call her when he gets to Pittsburgh.
At school, a popular boy, Charlie Banks, introduces himself to Lucy who is completely in awe. Charlie asks Lucy if they could be "just friends" and Lucy is more than willing to give it a try. Mary warns Lucy that Charlie is a heartbreaker, but Lucy says she's young – she can take it.
At the middle school, Simon sees Cheryl but just as he was about to go up and ask her something, her boyfriend – a big kid – joins her at her locker. Totally out of the blue, another girl, Janice, walks up to Simon and asks if he wants to go steady. Not wanting to continue being the only kid not going steady, Simon accepts, and Janice drags him off in her arm.
Ruthie is at her school playing "Xena – Warrior Princess" at recess with the other girls where they corner a boy, Ricky. Ricky says as his revenge for being captured – he is going to kiss all the girls. Everyone runs away. Ricky catches Ruthie and kisses her and is seen by the teacher who is concerned. Ricky and Ruthie explain they were just playing and Ruthie kisses Ricky in turn for her revenge. The teacher sends a note home with Ruthie asking if both the Camdens and Ricky's parents want a meeting with the school board.
That evening, Charlie calls Lucy and asks if he puts a note in her locker, if she can give it to a girl Lucy saw him with earlier in the day. Lucy says sure. Eric is meanwhile waiting for the phone to ring to hear from Matt and is getting irritated that the kids can't stay off the phone. The phone rings again, this time it's Janice for Simon. Eric asks who Janice is and Annie explains that in the 6th grade, going steady doesn't really mean it. Janice tells Simon she wants a ring or a bracelet from Simon to show his affection for her.
Wilson comes over and asks to talk with Mary, but based on what is happening with Matt, Eric asks if he can come back later. Wilson agrees and Mary blows up at Eric saying he is taking his anger at Matt out on her. Wilson once again rings the doorbell and Mary goes on the front porch to talk. After they kiss, Mary realizes something is wrong. Wilson tells her that it might be good if they see other people because they are starting to get too serious. They exchange their feelings and eventually Mary agrees that it's probably for the best.
Matt arrives at Heather's dorm room late at night and she lets him in to get some sleep before they talk in the morning. She tells him she is sorry but she thinks she loves the guy she just met and that she feels like he is the one for her. Matt tells her that he feels that the two of them belong together, but eventually accepts the fact that Heather's heart now belongs to someone else. They give each other a big hug and say their good-byes.
Simon asks Mary and Lucy how to break up with Janice nicely and is shocked when they suggest that he tell her that the problem is with him and not her. Simon protests that it ISN'T him, and the girls smile. Later, Simon does indeed break up with Janice, and 5 seconds afterwards, Janice asks another boy to go steady with her.
Matt goes to the bus station where Eric said he would wire money for a ticket for him. Matt is concerned when the ticket window says no such ticket is waiting for him. Matt has a seat and is surprised when Eric walks in and shows him 2 plane tickets. Father and son exchange a hug and leave to the airport.