A letter from a literary publication John Jr. submitted some of his poem to has arrived with some special news: he is being awarded a full ride (Room, board, tuition) scholarship to university...in Chicago. However, John Jr. decides to turn down the free ride and stick around Walnut Grove.  As he continues to mask his true feelings to appease everyone else, John Jr. is starting to lose himself.  That's when Big Sister Mary says enough is enough.  Will Mr. Edwards realize that making a living doesn't mean you only have to break your back to do so? Did Mary realize, at any time, that she was actually a Beard?  What sort of new adventures await the young man from Walnut Grove in a place like Chicago?