Scags lives in Skokie, Illinois in 1958. The story she tells takes place during her summer vacation when she is 7 years old. Her best friend, Julia, is away at camp. Her new friend, Davy, is a boy and somewhat of a bother but better than being alone all day long. Her Pops is her favorite adult as well as her father and something is wrong with him During this long summer vacation Scags begins to understand some of it and some of it she will never understand.