Content Warning: This section discusses antisemitism, infant loss, loss of children, Nazi Germany, and racism.

Gussie Feldman, Florence’s seven-year-old niece, is at the beach with her grandparents, Esther and Joseph, in Atlantic City. She is joined by Florence and Anna. Gussie wants to play mermaid with Florence by laying in the sand on the surf, and Florence agrees. Though Gussie is excited to spend time with Florence, she feels shy because Florence has just returned from college.

During the summer months, Esther and Joseph rent out their house, which is a block from the beach, to tourists. They have therefore moved temporarily into an apartment above the bakery, and Gussie dislikes living there. However, Gussie has to stay with her grandparents because her mother, Fannie, is on bed rest while pregnant and doesn’t want Gussie staying in her father’s, Isaac, apartment. Since Anna is staying with the family, Gussie must also sleep on the sun porch.

As she plays with Florence, Gussie thinks about how often her opinions are overlooked and how she can only learn things by remaining quiet and observing the adults around her.