Muriel and Donald meet in the summer at college, and Muriel quickly finds her life becoming the kind of easy existence that always felt out of reach for her. Donald off-handedly mentions a curve that was used to grade students in high-school, with a peak called the norm where the majority lies, and in his company Muriel feels like she has finally achieved the norm. His love gives her a sense of belonging, and she no longer feels envious of the lives of others or as though she has been excluded from the experiences of people her age.

They cannot help but be happy in each other's presence, but Muriel knows that after the norm comes the downward curve; she feels as though the end of their time together is inevitable. Muriel is Jewish, while Donald is not. When his family soon hears of the relationship, they are horrified. Donald himself does not care, but there is a stigma attached to couples like them.

Muriel feels, for a while, as though the enormity of their love is enough to surpass the obstacle of his family's prejudice, but one day the family drives up in their car with a girl named Edna, who Donald was supposed to marry. He assures Muriel that he never will marry Edna, but she does not share his easy confidence. Muriel even considers pawning her heirloom ring to get the money to live happily with Donald, but is unsuccessful. By now they both know that the end of their love is fast approaching. Muriel has to go back to her family, as does Donald, and he walks her to her bus with the same quiet happiness that they have always shared. She feels conscious of the differences between them, and tries to console herself by saying they will meet again. He kisses her goodbye, and the bus pulls away. The woman sitting next to Muriel on the bus leers at her over the top of a magazine.