A man, Bill, nervously drops a package at a house in Peaksville. A young boy, Little Anthony Fremont, plays with a rat by controlling it with his mind. Bill mumbles so that Anthony cannot read his mind, for if he does, he could take action and cause harm – even if by mistake. The rat Anthony had been playing with died by devouring itself, so Anthony buries him in a cornfield. Aunt Amy brings in the groceries. Everyone in the town always says things are “good,” no matter the true state of things, to keep Anthony from interfering. Tonight is television night at the Fremont house, which happens weekly, along with a surprise birthday party for Dan Hollis. Anthony made television night mandatory every week for everybody because it makes Aunt Amy happy. Anthony’s father comes home from work and tells the women that a record was found and it is to be gifted to Dan for his birthday. Television night starts as everyone arrives. Pat Reilly plays the piano, which Anthony loves, but he does not allow singing. Dan gets his birthday presents, with the record coming last. He asks to play it, but is told it is not a good idea because of Anthony. Dan drinks too much brandy, and drunkenly gets angry that he cannot play the record. Pat is playing the piano, so Dan requests “Happy Birthday,” and starts to sing it. He bitterly turns to Anthony’s parents, blaming them for having Anthony. Anthony teleports the man to a grave in the cornfield. To keep from further angering him, the people in the room announce that this is a good thing. The gathering watches TV, which does not work as there is no electricity: Anthony had teleported Peaksville away from the world when he was born three years ago. The town lives on Anthony’s whim.