The author grew up in North Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s, daughter of composer Healey Willan and pianist 11 Gladys ('Nell') Hall. She depicts her parents' marriage, accomplishments, and musical collaboration, their lively household, and events and personalities in Toronto. We see, for example, Mary gently humouring Francis Poulenc at tea, Mary and her mother working with Dora Mavor Moore, and her father and 'Uncle Leo' Stokowski testing acoustics at Varsity Arena.