A boy named Harold learns that his parents had fired his baby-sitter, Mrs. Norman, not for locking him in the closet while she watched TV, but for wearing the socks of his father while she did it. His father was very particular about hygiene and had felt violated by this.

Mrs. Norman was an old woman with thick toenails that she couldn't cut without help from her daughter, a motorcycle-riding woman his parents described as "jolly." Harold would watch her cut Mrs. Norman's toenails and saved a large one in his pocket, because he liked collecting objects that "offered tactile reassurance."

Harold is a quiet, observant boy with no friends at school, who likes to read and takes note of grammar and vocabulary. He is attuned to even the social dynamics of adults; for example, he believes one of his teachers makes fun of him in subtle ways to win the approval of her other students.

After Mrs. Norman was fired, a potential friend named Simon came over to play. Simon described Harold's mother to Harold as "lustful," which Harold had to ask the meaning of. Harold remembered his mother telling his aunt over the phone that she and his dad didn't have sex. His dad didn't like his aunt and often called her a hippie, but Harold liked her. He later realized his mother called his aunt more and more because his parents had started fighting more, even though he often didn't realize what was going on. He remembered one argument at Thanksgiving. After, his mother came to his room crying and his dad left the house.

Simon notes that Harold has a lot of books; Harold says his favorite librarian, Mr. Tesky, lets him check out 5 instead of the limit of 3. Simon says, "That's because he's a f-g." Harold doesn't know what the slur means, figures it must mean hardworking, and agrees. Simon says Harold is, too. After Simon leaves Harold looks up the word and finds the verb form, "to toil." He puts on his kimono, a garment he loves that he got at a yard sale, which he used to always wear but hasn't in a long time, after he overheard his father refer to it as his "dress."

His mom comes in and suggests he invite Simon over for a sleepover. He tries to figure out a way to convince her he shouldn't and says Simon is a Democrat. His parents are Republicans. Once, when he was young, they made another girl dress up as the Gallup Poll with him: she as Jimmy Carter and he as Gerald Ford. In the costume competition, his mom told him to finish ahead when crossing in front of the judges. After, Mr. Tesky asked him if he followed politics and almost touched his hair.

Harold's parents make him go to back-to-school night with them. Harold says they should meet Mr. Tesky, repeating the slur Simon used to describe him. His mother is angry and scolds him for using the word; Harold is confused; his dad is quiet.

At back-to-school night, his dad asks to go meet Mr. Tesky. He seemingly flirts with him, without Harold realizing. Driving home, Harold thinks of his workout room with pictures of men on all the walls, which he would enter after work without even changing.

A week later, Harold's mother tells him his father is leaving. Harold heard her on the phone saying "in the closet," and Harold brings up Mrs. Norman locking him in the closet, and learns the real reason she was fired: the socks. Harold's father says he's moving in with a new friend—a man. Harold asks if this means he won't check all the windows and doors each night. Harold feels scared, and longs for the past and the comfort of the closet Mrs. Norman locks him in.