At age five, Laurie Welsh experiences a major tragedy in her life. This collection of short stories follows Laurie as she grows up in the heartland of America in the 1950's, trying to make sense of the world around her. The life lessons that she bravely attempts to learn are all tinted, some more subtly than others, by the lingering shadow of her early tragedy. How strong does a child have to be? This is a recurring question that Laurie must face.