After polio strikes the Wright family, the father will never walk again, and the mother has lost touch with reality. Todd, 11, suddenly finds himself in charge. A Kindly doctor makes arrangements to place the whole family in institutions. Todd promises his little sister, Jenny, 7, that she'll never go to an orphanage, but will he be able to keep his promise? If only their mother would wake up and come back to them, they might be able to manage. As time draws near for them to leave, Todd and Jenny redouble their efforts to wake their mother.