In a futuristic world, a working class man is excited that he has just purchased a journal resolves to write in it every night, for future generations to read about his life. His life becomes hectic, and the next time he journals, he writes about an incident wherein his car bumper fell off while picking up his kids (Eva, Lilly, and Thomas) from school. It is evident the family is poor and he longs to be rich.

The family goes to the party of one of Lilly's friends, Leslie. They are incredibly rich. Lilly says she would love to live in their house and the protagonist's wife, Pam, agrees. The family has all kinds of animals and electronics and antique or rare objects. Leslie's family has the "largest SG arrangement ever seen," which Lilly is fascinated by. She goes closer to see them, but Eva shakes her head and shies away. The father of the family makes the protagonist feel bad about his job. After the party, their house feels small and sad. Lilly's birthday is coming up and when asked what she wants to do for it she becomes sad and says nothing. The protagonist writes that he doesn't like rich people and that he is tired of work.

The protagonist clarifies the next day that he is grateful for his work. After the party, he found Eva sad in her room. She said it was for no reason but had drawn a crayon picture of sad SGs. He feels he should "explain it does not hurt, they are not sad, actually happy, given their prior conditions."

The protagonist goes on a night walk, sees more SGs, longs for a life of luxury, and prays not to fall farther behind his affluent peers.

Lilly says she doesn't want to have a birthday party. The protagonist is worried it's because of their small house and bare yard. On "my yard" day at school, other kids gave info on their SGs, like name and place of origin. Her birthday list consists of some very expensive lawn figurines. The narrator wants to splurge to make her happy.

The narrator is having difficulty with his credit cards. He is worried if he doesn't splurge for his children they will be forever affected by growing up poor and the world will reject them. He thinks of growing up poor and feels appreciation for his own father.

He realizes the check won't clear in time to get Lilly the cheetah figure for her birthday. He considers wrapping a picture of the cheetah and imagines being able to take her to a fancy resturaunt.

The protagonist wins $10,000 in the lottery. He and his wife decide to pay off part of their credit card loans, and he decides to get the yard re-landscaped for Lilly's birthday and throw her a surprise party. He and his wife share a happy, intimate night, unlike any they've had in a long time.

They surprise Lilly with the new yard, an arrangement of 4 SGs (The protagonist and his wife were to squeamish to watch the SG "hoist"), and all her friends from school. Lilly is delighted, but Eva gets upset and cries in the closet. The narrator explains that all the SGs chose to come hang as lawn ornaments with a wire through their head to support their families back in their home countries. He tries to reassure Eva by reading one of their sad backstories to her. Eva asks why they can't just give their families the money.

The next day, at work, his co-workers who previously joked that he only had two shirts and otherwise ignored him take interest in him, want to see pictures of his yard and come by, etc.. Leslie comes over to their house, which is big. He imagines taking his kids to Europe.

Eva is moody and acting out at school. She draws a picture of unhappy SGs in the yard. The protagonist takes her for a drive and points out all the other SGs. She says that just because everyone's doing it doesn't make it right. He explains how the microline is put through their heads using the "Semplica pathway," which doesn't harm them or hurt. He says they need the SGs so Lilly will feel unashamed entering high school.

His co-worker, Todd, dies, and he goes to the funeral. After, he makes all his kids resolve to live their lives to the fullest and not hesitate to do the things they want to do. The next day, the SGs are gone. They call the police to track them down, but the police are pessimistic. One cop mentions that an activist group probably cut down the line. The protagonist asks why they would run since they chose to be there and the cop laughs, says: "Smelling that American dream, baby." The company they were renting them from tells them they owe $8600 in replacement debit for the remaining time on the SGs contracts. They can't pay, and realize they'll lose the house. Eva starts crying and apologizing and the protagonist realizes she's the one who cut the SGs down and freed them. The protagonist gets mad and yells at the kids then cries in the garage.

The protagonist and his wife reach out to his wife's father asking for help with the money, but the father refuses. They consider telling Greenway Eva did it in hope for pity, but realize freeing SGs is a felony. They hope it will all blow over and nobody will learn Eva did it. Then, a detective is assigned to their case. The detective makes the family anxious. The protagonist wonders again at why the SGs would run away, become fugitives.