John Folly House in the late 1950s was a place where raw talent was sought out and nurtured by a staff of strong-willed tutors. John Folly himself, the surprisingly youthful founder, taught woodwork and practical history, but he wasn't often there. He made Billie Klassen uneasy, for reasons she couldn't explain. She loved her drama teacher, Altansarnai Bichmoses, even though the teacher was discouraging about Billie's career chances. Then there was the motor vehicle maintenance tutor, Jim Kelly, who, according to Billie's classmate Donna, growled when spoken to.

When Billie's best friend from her schooldays arrived to take her for lunch, it set off a chain of events that still echoed in Billie's psyche decades later.