When the Martin's refuse to sell their farm to a land speculator after he learns the Governor is contemplating turning a nearby lake into a reservoir, the property soon starts to be vandalized by an accomplice of the speculator, with the hope that Paul will change his mind.

After telling a series of lies, one in which he says that an elderly neighbor is a witch, Timmy's parents are reluctant to believe him when he finds the woman trapped in her house that has been engulfed in flames.

When Timmy gets in a fight with a larger boy at school, he gains a lot of respect from his schoolmates and as a result, they ask him to play football with them. However, upon hearing that Timmy got in a fight, June is less than thrilled that he's growing up as fast as he is.

After his friend Willie mentions a special contest about the best pet, with the winner receiving tickets to a nearby circus, Timmy decides to write an essay about Lassie, hoping that he'll win. However, when he gives Lassie the letter to send to the post office, she gets sidetracked by someone who needs help and ultimately renders the letter undeliverable.

When the Martin's buy a secondhand refrigerator to replace their old icebox, Lassie has a hard time adjusting to it, much to Ruth's displeasure. It's only after Timmy has an accident in the barn does Lassie see that the ice made in the refrigerator helps him get better that she accepts that the new appliance is helpful and starts acting normally again.