"Grandma" Esther Walton received an official letter with much apprehension from Simon, Brentner and Colby, a St. Louis, Missouri firm of lawyers, unable to imagine any news from that source to be good. Elizabeth even asks if her Grandma is going to go to jail! As John Boy reads the letter to his grandmother, she finds that it bears the sad news of the death of her childhood best friend, Mrs. Cleveland "Fern" Potter. But all are soon surprised to hear that Fern's will has left her friend Esther $250.00. Esther reminisces about Fern, remembering their walks to school together, Fern's marriage and move west, and affirms that, although it has been 28 years since they had seen each other, "early ties don't lessen with time". Esther remembers that Fern's favorite color was green and that she loved flowers, especially violets, which she would press between the pages of the family Bible. Fern had a pretty voice and loved jokes and riddles. When Jim Bob asks what kind of riddles, his grandma entertains them with Fern's favorite: What do you sleep on, sit on, and brush your teeth with? Answer: A bed, a chair and a toothbrush!