Eric is distressed by the fact that his daughter Mary has opted to postpone college in favor of a little soul searching and the glory of minimum wage. Mary decides to buy a car. Annie leaves Eric with a handful at home so she can complete her teaching degree. Meanwhile, Simon attempts to fit in with the treacherous terrain of high school, and Lucy looks forward to ruling the school as a senior. Lucy can't wait to start a relationship with Andrew Nayloss, but he has not come back from summer vacation yet. Meanwhile, Matt's on-again-off-again relationship with Heather threatens to be off-again—permanently. Matt considers the pre-med track at college and Ruthie learns that she will have to spend another year with her despised third grade teacher, Ms. Riddle.

Responsibilities fly out the window when Eric and Annie enjoy separate nights out on Friday. Although the reverend can't find anyone to hang out with him, so he calls a bewildered Matt. Annie is conferring with a professor. Mary strays even further away from her parent's image of her when she is tempted to drink and smoke one night after work. Also, Mary makes friends with married co-workers Frankie and Johnny with questionable morals while working the late shift. Matt blows Simon's chance at a big date with an older woman when Matt is distracted by a close encounter of the female kind and forgets to pick up Simon. Also, Lucy gets a taste of the not-so-glamorous side of parenting when her and a classmate take care of an egg.