Catherine begins her narrative with a vivid description of her eight-year-old brother, David, resisting her attempt to get him into the family car. They are to ride to the occupational therapy clinic where he regularly meets with his therapist, Stephanie. Catherine makes clear what a difficult balancing act it is to work with David, who sometimes has good days at the clinic and sometimes requires the intervention of his mother. To secure his cooperation, Catherine promises that their father will take David to the video store when he gets home from his job as a pharmacist.

Catherine has learned that the family moving in next door has a daughter her age. Catherine’s best friend, Melissa, whom she pines to speak to throughout the narrative, is spending the summer in California with her father. Catherine and her family live in a seaside village on the Maine coast.

Once Catherine gets David into the car, she begins to review with him the rules she has made that she intends for him to follow. David understands the rules and can recite them back to her, though he often disobeys them.