Paul wakes to find out the first snow of winter has fallen. In school, the children cannot concentrate, so Morrie releases them early for recess. He comes outside at the sound of shrieking when there is a giant dogpile in the snow but realizes no one is hurt and it is all in good fun.

Paul and Carnelia manage to hang the flag upside down. After they correct it, Morrie tells Paul he must come in after school. Paul protests that Morrie should punish Carnelia as well, but Morrie says that this is not punishment. Rather, he tells Paul that he is academically so far ahead of everyone else that he needs to leave the one-room schoolhouse in Marais Coulee to attend high school. Paul refuses either to go to high school or to join the eighth graders. Morrie comes up with a creative solution.

That afternoon, Morrie accompanies Paul home from school. Though Oliver worries that his son has done something wrong, Morrie explains that Paul needs more academic challenges, and suggests that he teach Paul Latin after school. Paul is thrilled with the idea and speculates about how it will affect his dreams.