Suze Gordon plays gin rummy with her mother, Terry Gordon, on Suze’s lunch break. Both of Suze’s parents are scientists who work at Los Alamos. A siren signals the end of lunch break, and her mother leaves for her lab. Suze reflects sadly that her father wasn’t home for lunch and likely wouldn’t be home for dinner. Suze accepts that her parents’ work is important for the war effort, but she misses spending more time with them.

Suze considers sending a letter to her Grandmother but reflects that the censors who read their mail will likely censor most of it.

Suze goes outside where Betty, Joyce, and Barbara—girls in Suze’s class—are playing jump rope. Suze reflects that she feels excluded by these girls; Suze is uninterested in the Girl Scouts program, which the three popular girls love. Suze suggests going to get cokes, and the girls agree.

Dewey reads with Papa on his lunch break and then goes to the dump to look for discarded mechanical items, such as gears, knobs, and ball bearings. She tows a wagon with her to transport her discovered treasures home. While there, she bumps into Charlie and Jack, brothers who go to her school.