The story opens on a Friday evening in June. Twelve-year-old Amy Treloar (the protagonist) is at the mall with a new friend, Ellen Kramer, and her developmentally disabled younger sister, Louann (age 11). Amy lost track of Louann and worries about finding her. She also worries about losing Ellen’s friendship because Louann can be difficult.

Amy and Ellen finally find Louann at a puppet show. Amy pulls Louann away from the performance, saying it’s “for little kids” (3). The three girls go to the flower shop in the mall, where Louann accidentally breaks one of the tulip plants. Amy tries to pay for the ruined flower, but the man who works at the store won’t take her money. He gets angry and tells Amy to take Louann away.

Ellen cancels her plan to have a picnic with Amy the next day because she has family visiting, but Amy thinks it’s really because of Louann. Later, Amy tells her mother about Louann’s flower incident, and Amy’s mother accuses Amy of not paying enough attention to Louann. Tired of having to babysit Louann, Amy shouts she’s “never going to take her any place again” (10).