One night while the rest of the ward is asleep, Petey hears tiny scratching sounds that grab his attention. A group of mice have been attracted to his bedside by the crumbs of leftover food on his wheelchair. As he watches them scurry about, he decides to name the first three he encounters William, Cloud, and Blackie. Over the coming days, Petey begins to move his limbs strategically during mealtimes to encourage crumbs to fall into the folds of the sheets on his wheelchair. As their food supply increases, more mice appear each night, and Petey names them Sally, Patches, and Esteban. Petey remains as still as he can in his bed, and the mice become accustomed to him, drawing nearer and spending more and more time at his side in the dark. He delights in the opportunity for companionship and socialization.

That winter, another child arrives on the ward. Nine-year-old Calvin Anders is discovered naked outside the hospital’s administration building, badly bruised and shivering in the snow. Diagnosed as intellectually disabled, he is confined to a wheelchair because clubfoot affects both legs. After watching the other boy warily for three days, Calvin approaches Petey. Undeterred by Petey’s limited communication skills, Calvin immediately suggests the two become friends.