Hattie recounts in her diary entries some events involving her recently discovered uncle Adam who has an intellectual disability. She was initially unsure about Adam but found that he was kind. Hattie introduced Adam to her new friend Leila, who did not treat Adam differently. Hattie was then able to skip the summer cotillion she dreaded by instead attending her birthday party with Adam and Leila. However, during an outing to the carnival, Adam had a panic attack while stuck on a ferris wheel, frightening Hattie. Adam was then taken away by police as Hattie got in trouble with her father.