One Thursday night in a small town, fourteen-year-old Crescent Delahanty sits in the living room with her parents, and exclaims the program of the folk dance festival that she will perform in school tomorrow. She was originally placed in the dance class at her school because she was clumsy, but over the course of the semester she worked hard, and became the only remedial student to dance in the festival. She worries that her parents will embarrass her at the festival in front of her friends, especially Bernadine, who is one of the most popular girls at the school and the star dancer. Bernadine plans to spend the weekend with the Delahantys. Crescent tries to explain to her parents how to pronounce the names of the dances correctly, and tells them that on Fridays, Bernadine goes by the name of Nedra. The next day, Bernadine comes over to Crescent's house after school to prepare for the dance. She asks about Crescent's parents, and wonders why her father didn't talk to her for very long when she arrived. Crescent says that he's busy taking care of the farm because it had just rained. Bernadine, whose father is an executive at a bank, doesn't quite understand. She asks if Crescent will let her parents attend the festival, and warns her that after the students finish their performance, the teacher invites the parents to participate in some of the dances. Crescent is mortified, and her previous worries are compounded by this news. She goes to ask her parents not to participate if they're asked, but as she goes to look for them, she hears them talking about her. Her father is worried that Crescent will trip and fall and embarrass the family. Crescent realizes that her parents are just as worried about her as she is of them. This ruins her confidence. When she goes to tell this to her friend, Bernadine says that she worries about Crescent falling as well, and they have a brief dispute. Crescent lays down on her bed and puts her pillow over her face.