Wife Swap: Prairie Style

Ingalls/Oleson

Disclaimer: I do not own the Little House on the Prairie television series, book series, or any of the characters except for William Brick.

Note: This episode is based on the Little House on the Prairie television series. It takes place during the second season.

Chapter 1

Caroline held tight to her daughter Carrie's hand as they strutted up the flowered hill.

"Momma are we almost there?" Carrie whined.

"Yes, dear, only a few more minutes." Caroline smiled. Everyday Carrie would ask the same question as they walked to the Oleson's Mercantile. They finally arrived.

"Good morning Mrs. Ingalls and Carrie! How are you both today?" Mr. Oleson asked with his usual cheerful personality.

"We are just fine thank you." Caroline walked across the aisle to bring him the eggs.

Just then Mrs. Oleson walked in from the parlor. "Oh, Nels I will count the eggs. Why don't you make sure we have enough sugar in the backroom."

"Harriet! I am perfectly capable of counting the eggs." Nels argued.

Caroline shook her head in amazement. It seemed like this couple never got along. "If you all are going to argue all the time about my eggs, I guess I won't bring them in to sell anymore." Of course, Caroline didn't mean what she said; the Ingalls needed the money from the eggs. She just wanted to see them stop fighting.

Mrs. Oleson's face dropped. "Oh, no, don't do that Caroline. I will give you just as much as Nels does don't worry."

"Yeah, I'm sure you will." Caroline said doubtfully.

"What do you mean by that?" Mrs. Oleson shot back.

"Oh, nothing, I just…" Caroline was interrupted.

"Excuse me," said a short, round man. He walked up the aisle towards Caroline and Harriet. No one had noticed him standing in the front of the store observing what was happening. "I have been watching you two, and you all would be perfect for my experiment."

"Experiment?" Mrs. Oleson said with an interested tone in her voice.

"Yes. My name is William Brick. I am a journalist for a paper in Philadelphia. Anyway, I was sent here to find two women who would be interested in trading lives for two weeks. They would live the life of the other woman and follow that family's rules. However, during the second week, the family will follow rules of the woman living in their house. I know it sounds confusing, but I will explain it better to you and your families if you decide to do this."

"I am sorry, I don't think we can. I have to help my husband plant crops. There just isn't time for games." Caroline explained.

"Oh, but you will be paid fifty dollars each." William said with a sparkle in his eyes.

Caroline and Harriet looked at each other. "Fifty dollars?" Harriet was inquisitive. "I'm interested. How about you Caroline?"

"Well," said Caroline after a moment's hesitation, "I will talk to my husband about this and get back to you."

"Alright just let me know by tomorrow. I have deadlines." Mr. Brick smiled.

"Absolutely not!" Declared Charles that night at supper.

"Oh, Charles it is only for two weeks." Caroline enticed.

"I don't care. With that woman in the house it will feel like two years. It seems Nels will get the better end of this deal anyway."

"But Charles it's fifty dollars. We need that money after losing last year's crop."

"Fifty dollars!" Charles lit up. "I thought you said fifteen dollars. Well, when is this farm going to turn into Olesonville?"

"Thank you Charles for agreeing to do this!"

"I am only doing this for the money. And I am going to meet this William Brick before I agree to anything for certain."

"Oh, Pa! This will be so much fun!" Laura exclaimed.

"I don't think it is such a good idea." Said Mary. "Mrs. Oleson doesn't like us much, and she also doesn't know the ways of farmers. This will add more work for us, Laura. Remember the time Mr. Edwards stayed here?"

"I had fun when Mr. Edwards stayed here Mary." Laura thought for I moment. "I will try to act good so Mrs. Oleson won't be so mean to me anymore."

"I will be good too!" Carrie squealed.

"All right girls, no more talk about this upcoming adventure tonight. It is almost bedtime." Caroline said as she cleared the table.

"I think this is a splendid idea! It will be nice to be treated differently for two weeks." Said Nels.

"And what do you mean by that?" Harriet wanted to know.

"Nothing bad. I just think it will be interesting to see how another wife will act here. And the house might actually be cleaner." Nels concluded under his breath.

"What was that dear?" Harriet could hear very well.

"Oh, I said and a mouse couldn't be meaner. There was a mouse in the flower today."

"Right." Harriet knew that was not what her husband had said, but she was used to it so she just went along.

"Well, I don't think it is such a good idea!" Nellie spoke up. "I don't want Mrs. Ingalls taking care of us for two weeks. She doesn't like us and she will treat us rotten."

"Yeah, she will treat us rotten!" Willie agreed with his sister.

Nels defended Caroline. "That's nonsense children. You know Mrs. Ingalls is a very nice lady and wouldn't treat you any different from her own children. Actually, Mary, Laura, and Carrie, are the ones that should be worried."

"Oh, Nels, that is not true. I will be very good to those girls. You watch!"

More to come