I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away 8/10

Adam and Mary are walking into the Harp room as a girl with a crutch is exiting. He says "good afternoon" to the girl who responds with a good afternoon to both Adam and Mary. He whispers to Mary that the girl is one of the school's best students and a gifted pianist. Not a harpist? Seriously, what is the harp doing there? It seems like an odd rental from the prop house, particularly if it doesn't end up being used. Mary is more focused on how a blind kid knew that Mary was in the room. Adam smiles as he explains that Mary's footsteps and the rustle of her dress gave her away. Mary is wowed by the idea of using sound as a clue to your surroundings and realizes that she noticed the girl had an unusual walk. Adam explains that the girl had a crutch as a result of a wagon wreck a few years back. Another result from the wreck: the girl is an orphan. Mary's response to the news: "I used to think nobody suffered but me." Shut up, Mary. Your one suffering card is your blindness which doesn't carry too much sway in a school for the blind. Mary promises to recognize the girl next time around, causing Adam to passive aggressively remind her to actually say "hello" since smiles aren't that audible. They walk to the classroom and later on we see Mary enjoying her reading lesson.

Back in Walnut Grove, things are looking a little ghostly. A door is left swinging in the whistling wind. Over at the Mercantile, Charles runs into Jonathan who has some good news. Jonathan was able to line up a mill gig for the two of them. The pay isn't great, but it sounds like any paid work is worth it at this point. Charles says he is on board. Caroline runs into the Mercantile with another letter from Mary. Charles takes out the letter and hands the envelope to Mr. Garvey, who is amazed at how straight her writing is. Charles ruins the illusion by saying she uses a ruler. That's cheating. Back to the letter, it sounds like Mary will be coming home. There is much hugging and celebrating.

In the harp room, Mary and Adam are listening to Jenny play the piano. The girl thanks Mary and stands up. I guess she is picking up the vibe that the other two would like some alone time. Mary starts to talk about how much she loved listening to Pa play the fiddle. Adam asks if she plays anything, but she says she never learned. Is there a harp lesson in her near future? Adam offers to teach her how to play something, but Mary goes into pity party mode. Adam tells her to forget about the blindness and to stop using it as an obstacle. He brings up the example of John Milton, the author of one of Mary's favorite books Paradise Lost. Adam renews his offer, but Mary says there isn't enough time. Once again, Mary Ingalls sucks at flirting.

She reveals that she is a bit scared to leave the school, where things are safe and easy. Adam tells her that she can't depend on him for everything. Before she can say something stupid about staying at the school, Adam tells her that he is going to be moving to a school in Winoka in the Dakotas. This news causes Mary to be glad she is going home. Brat. Adam tells Mary that life outside isn't all that different, but Mary disagrees. "I wouldn't expect you to understand," she tells him. Either she has reached a new level of twerpitude, or she doesn't know that Adam is blind. That's awkward. Mary goes on to say that the world is nothing but an obstacle course filled with faceless people making strange sounds, present company included. Adam tells Mary to look at him, then grabs her hands and puts them on his face. She gets a feel and a smile crosses her face. She asks about Adam's eye and hair color and smiles when she gets an answer. Adam asks what Mary looks like and her face drops. Yup, awkward. She takes his hands and he feels her face. Uh, is this sex?