By Davan 
Laura’s First Crush
Laura has her first serious crush on a boy named Henry Henderson. With the annual spring dance coming up, she’s desperately hoping that Henry will ask her to be his date. But there’s a problem—Henry seems way more interested in Laura’s older sister, Mary. Laura can’t help but feel hurt and a little jealous, especially when she hears that Henry wants to invite Mary to the dance.
Nellie Being Nellie
Of course, the town’s resident troublemaker, Nellie Oleson, gets involved. She’s always looking for a way to make life difficult for Laura, and this dance is no exception. Nellie decides that she’s going to ask Henry herself, partly to make Laura jealous and partly just to get her way. Laura, meanwhile, is trying to keep her hopes up despite feeling overshadowed.
Mr. Edwards’ Nerves
While Laura is navigating her teenage crush, there’s a sweet subplot involving Mr. Edwards. He has a crush of his own on Grace Snider, a lovely widow in town. But Mr. Edwards is shy, tongue-tied, and totally out of his element when it comes to romance. His friend, Charles Ingalls, tries to give him a pep talk and pushes him to make a move. It’s a funny and touching part of the episode, with Mr. Edwards stumbling through his attempts to be charming. Eventually, he nervously asks Grace to the dance, and to his surprise (and relief), she says yes.
Mary’s Sacrifice
Back on the teenage front, Henry finally gets the nerve to ask Mary to the dance. But Mary knows her sister has feelings for him, and in a selfless move, she turns him down—even though it means she might not have a date herself. It creates a bit of tension between the sisters, with Laura feeling guilty that Mary sacrificed her own happiness for her.
Laura Takes a Risk
Laura, tired of waiting for Henry to notice her, decides to take matters into her own hands. In a bold move, she asks Henry to the dance herself. It’s not easy for Laura, who’s usually more reserved, but she steps out of her comfort zone. Unfortunately, Henry is still smitten with Nellie, who’s been putting on her best act to get his attention. Laura feels a bit defeated, but she doesn’t give up.
Dance Night
The night of the dance is full of anticipation. The whole town is there, dressed up and ready to have fun. Laura watches, feeling a mix of hope and disappointment, as Henry chooses to dance with Nellie. But it doesn’t take long for Henry to realize that Nellie’s true personality isn’t as charming as her outward appearance. During the dance, Nellie’s snobbish and selfish behavior starts to show, and Henry begins to see Laura in a new light.
A Happy Ending
In the end, Henry comes back to Laura, realizing she’s the one he should have been paying attention to all along. He asks her to dance, and Laura’s face lights up with happiness—her bravery has paid off, and she finally gets her moment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Edwards and Grace share a sweet, slightly awkward dance that shows how even the toughest of frontier men can be tender. It’s a charming moment that adds warmth to the episode, highlighting Mr. Edwards’ softer side.
Lessons Learned
By the end of the night, Laura learns a valuable lesson about being true to herself and that good things can happen when you’re brave enough to put yourself out there. She and Mary make up, sharing a sisterly moment of understanding. And, of course, Nellie is left to stew over being dumped in front of everyone—something that the audience can’t help but enjoy.
The episode wraps up with the townsfolk laughing, dancing, and enjoying the spring night—a celebration of growing up, learning to be yourself, and the simple joy of community. It’s a classic *Little House* episode: heartfelt, humorous, and filled with the charm of small-town life on the prairie.