Peter Hatcher recounts winning his turtle, Dribble, at the birthday party of his best friend, Jimmy Fargo. He won the prize when he came closest to guessing the number of jelly beans contained in a jar; Mrs. Fargo declared that “Peter Warren Hatcher is the big winner!” (3). While Peter initially regrets not receiving a goldfish in a plastic bag like the other guests, he realizes that he received the best prize.

Peter describes walking home to his family’s New York City apartment, and the friendly conversation that he has with Henry Bevelheimer, the elevator operator. Peter’s mother, Ann Hatcher, is not excited upon meeting Dribble, saying, “I don’t like the way he smells” (4). She announces that she will not care for the pet, but Peter responds that Dribble will be his own responsibility. He is pleased to have a pet of his own but realizes that this will not be a pet that will “lick you or anything” (5).

Despite his mother’s distaste for Dribble and her insistence upon Peter scrubbing his hands often, Peter’s most problematic family member is his little brother, Farley Drexel Hatcher, known as Fudge.