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Original Airdate: 11/17/97
Eric and Simon are driving along to a friend's , Mrs. K, when Simon asks Eric where he was when JFK was shot. When Eric replied he was a kid and was at the dentist – Simon is less than enthusiastic. He tells Eric that the class has an assignment and the JFK question is perfect for his oral report. When they arrive at Mrs. K's house, Simon is reluctant to get out the car, telling his dad that she always gives him useless gifts – last time it was a ball of string. They go in and she does indeed give Simon a gift – but this time it's a bunch of cereal box tops that Simon can redeem for a Red Lightning ring. When she hands them to him, Simon notices a tattoo on Mrs. K's arm. After being rushed out of the house, he tells his dad what he saw and asks what it means. Eric promises to tell him about it later that night.After dinner, Eric shows Simon pictures from the concentration camps and explains how the Nazis imprisoned and executed over 6 million people during the war. He explains how there were problems in Germany and Hitler blamed the Jewish people since for everything. Simon doesn't understand how Hitler convinced everyone to do such bad things, nor does he comprehend why nobody went in to help those who were being killed. Eric tells him that some refused to believe it, or felt that they couldn't help.
Matt's new girlfriend, Joanne, is about to come over and so naturally everyone in the house feels pulled toward the living room. Annie, however, makes everyone go upstairs. Mary and Lucy think up a plan to send Ruthie downstairs to look for Huey so they can come down and get her. Joanne introduces herself to Mary and Lucy who are not at all impressed. Once she and Matt are out the door, the two make fun of Joanne and say how much they hate her. Annie comes downstairs and marches Ruthie up to her room where she interrogates Ruthie about the crayon drawings all over the wall. Ruthie explains that she was trying to do a mural like the one at school, but Annie tells her to wash it off. When Annie says she is taking the paste and scissors away too, Ruthie yells and tells Annie she hates her. Annie leaves the room and closes the door, heartbroken.
The next day, Matt drives to school and meets up with Joanne and the two exchange a hug and a kiss. As they walk away, Joanne overhears Mary and Lucy making fun of her again and Joanne takes off in the opposite direction.
At school, Simon finds out that the entire class also had his idea of the JFK questions. When Simon explains his other idea about telling the story of Mrs. K. and the concentration camps, another kid – Larry, says his dad told him it was all a hoax. The teacher tells Simon she will guarantee him an A for his oral presentation if he tells Mrs. K's story. Simon agrees.
Joanne is invited to dinner that evening and accepts. Seeing that she is being pestered by Mary and Lucy, Annie asks the two to join her in the kitchen where they continue making fun of her. Unknown to them, Joanne hears the entire conversation and the next day breaks up with Matt because of the two sisters. Matt interrogates Mary and Lucy about what happened and the two eventually break down and tell him they just didn't like her and that he will find someone else. They can't remember why they hate her – only that they do. The next day, Mary and Lucy try to apologize to Joanne but she doesn't accept and tells them that she can never go out with Matt again.
After getting permission to, Simon and Eric go to Mrs. K's house again to hear her story and leave with tears running down both their faces. Simon apologizes for his heart not being big enough and tells her that he's sorry for what happened to her. She gives him a hug , pats him on the back and he and Eric head for home with a new perspective of the past.
The next morning, Ruthie comes downstairs and tries to apologize to Annie for saying she hated her. Annie accepts the apology but confesses that her heart still hurts a little bit. She explains to Ruthie that sometimes the words you say take on a power all their own. And no matter how hard you want to take them back – you can't.
At school, Simon begins his speech but then say's he can't tell the story himself and is willing to take an F. He then introduces Mrs. K who begins to tell the story about how her family was rounded up, separated and how the rest of her family was killed. Larry's dad starts out still convinced it was a hoax, but later tries to comfort Larry who is deeply moved. Mrs. K. continues the story and the class learns history firsthand.