Gerald is a three-year-old Black boy who lives with his mother, Monique, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother is a drug addict and often beats him to “teach him a lesson” (5). At night, Monique tends to go out, leaving Gerald in the house alone.

One night, Monique’s aunt, Aunt Queen, comes over and finds Gerald alone. He has soiled himself: “His pajamas were soaked and smelly and he was shivering and hungry” (6). Shocked, Aunt Queen takes Gerald to her apartment and gives him a bath and some food.

When Monique arrives to pick him up, Aunt Queen reprimands her. That night, Monique is very affectionate with Gerald, but she quickly falls back into her old patterns. The following evening, Monique tells Gerald she’s going out to see Mr. Leroy, her drug dealer, but she assures him that she will be right back. While Monique is away, Gerald finds her lighter, plays with it, and sets the apartment one fire.

Gerald wakes up in the hospital. His next-door neighbor found him passed out in the apartment and saved his life. Aunt Queen comes to the hospital. Though she is upset with Monique’s actions, she understands she’s young and doesn’t know how to raise a child on her own.