Michael, a former super (kid with superpowers), wakes on his 13th birthday with no memory of his ability to fly or the superpowers of his friends, Eric, Mollie, Louisa, Simon, and Rose. Whenever he thinks about the past, he starts to feel sick. He drifts away from his friends during his birthday party, thinking they seem too young for him now. That night, he sees Mollie sitting in the tree outside his third-story bedroom window. As he watches, she lifts into the air and flies away. When she’s out of sight, Michael convinces himself he made the whole thing up and goes to bed. From that day on, he doesn’t think about superpowers anymore, “and he never [flies] again” (10).

Twelve-year-old Daniel moves to Noble’s Green with his family to take care of his ailing grandmother. While the grown-ups talk, Daniel takes his little brother outside to play, where Mollie introduces herself. While Mollie and Daniel are talking, Daniel’s brother tosses his ball out into the street and goes after it as a truck approaches.