Original Airdate: December 20, 1972
Writer: Lionel E. Siegel
Director: Lee Philips
Prologue:
"When I was growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the Depression, many of the things we take for granted today, back then were luxuries - like going to school. Many boys my age had to quit school and find jobs to help support their families, but my father and mother were determined that each of their offspring would graduate from high school."
Synopsis:
John-Boy is writing an essay with the help of his teacher Miss Hunter to submit to a contest. Reverend Fordwich stops by the school and asks Rosemary if he could call on her that evening. Although he asks her to help with the upcoming church picnic his real motive is to ask permission to court her. Never having made a fuss about her appearance or for dating she gets swept up in the excitement of having a new suitor. John-Boy on the other hand is disturbed by her new focus on Matthew Fordwich.
The essay he is writing is actually about Miss Hunter and not about an Aunt as he initially explained to her. John-Boy is jealous of all the attention she is giving to Matthew instead of him and his writing. He arrives at the picnic in time to compete against Matthew in the spike driving contest. John-Boy's sledgehammer breaks and he loses to Mr. Fordwich. He speaks privately with Miss Hunter and apologizes for his jealous behaviour.
Secondary Story:
Ben is fond of Naomi but he is feeling inferior to the bigger boys in school. He sends away to Chicago for a $0.62 body building manual to change from “a 97 pound weakling” to someone Naomi will notice. He practices he's strength exercises in the privacy of John-Boy's bedroom but Erin tries every method possible to learn what he has been hiding from the family. At the picnic he enters the nail driving contest against Willy Dempster who he is competing for Naomi's attention. Ben loses the contest but wins the girl when she decides that she likes his red hair best.
Epilogue:
"I was to know many teachers, but none so dedicated and gifted as Miss Rosemary Hunter. Even today I can feel her influence, for like any good teacher she left an indelible mark on my work, and on my life."
Episode Notes and Intersting Facts:
Flossie Brimmer (Nora Marlowe) makes her first appearance in the series.
The German title for this episode is called ""An Extraordinary Person" which is the topic that John-Boy is writing about for submission into a writing contest.
Additional Cast:
Mariclare Costello (Rosemary Hunter), John Ritter (Matthew Fordwick), Nora Marlowe (Flossie Brimmer), Janet Johnson (Naomi Atkins), Brad Wilkin (Willie Dempster)
Music from this episode:
Jason practices on his guitar much to the annoyance of John-Boy.