One winter, Mary’s father dies. She is fifteen. Mary is sometimes referred to as “Sister” by her family. Her father was a prominent country doctor in their rural area. When he died, she did not know what she, her brother Little Doc, and her two sisters Melie Kate and Ruth, will do, as their mother was staying in a sanitorium. Mary is the eldest child and is responsible for making these decisions. Mary thinks about the pivotal role her father had in her life.

In the early morning after her father died, many people from the backcountry came to their house to visit and pay their respects. Someone rang a bell to alert these people of his death. Men came and brought turnips to plant and women made bread. A young woman brings her daughter Mary Kate Ruth who was delivered by their father, Big Doc. She named her daughter after his daughters. All the people reminisce about her father, Big Doc, who was a well-respected man in the community. Mary felt love for these people. The siblings decide to stay together and not split up among their aunts and uncles.

In the spring, things are better. Mary is looking through a scrapbook when her bother calls to tell her they are going on a family picnic at the request of their mother. Their mother had returned four spring days and was living at home with them. Ruth’s birthday had recently passed, and it was tradition to have a birthday picnic. Mary helps gather the siblings for the picnic. Mary and her brother Little Doc are distant. Little Doc is colder towards Mary than usual. He does not want her help with anything. Mary drives them to the picnic in their car.

They arrive and set up their picnic. Everyone appears to be in good spirits. Ruth and Melie have an argument over a stone. Ruth hits Mary with a stick and must sit by a tree while they have the picnic. They all have their favorite sandwiches. After eating, Mary expects Little Doc to ask her if she wants to go shake trees as they usually do. He does not ask. Little Doc takes Melie and Ruth to the lake to skip stones.

Mother and Mary go on a walk together to look for cattails. They lie on the grass and have a chat. Mary desires to talk about her feelings toward Little Doc but she does not know where to begin. Her mother begins the conversation. The mother says that she wishes she knew what to say to her. The mother explains that Little Doc is jealous of Mary and her responsibilities since Big Doc passes. Little Doc wants Big Doc’s place, which is currently occupied by Mary. She suggests that Mary let Little Doc have more responsibility and that she focuses on her pursuits in teaching music. Mother insists that the head of household ought to be a man anyway.

Mary feels happy and says that she could die here. Her mother exclaims that she smells plums. They go to look for plums. Mary goes back for a picnic basket and runs into Little Doc. Mary sees Melie Kate has a gash on her leg. Little Doc explains that she was bit by a rattlesnake, and he cut out the bite and sucked out the poison, but she ought to go to a doctor immediately. Little Doc takes care of everything, and they drive away.  

That evening they spend time together in the living room. It is peaceful. Mother gives Little Doc Big Doc’s keys to the house. Mary thinks about getting her own piano pupil. She is now alone in the living room. Little Doc returns and they have a banter. They refer to each other by their real names, Mary and Robert, and not their nicknames Sister and Little Doc.

In the summer a man called Mr. Granther comes to the house to inquire about Mary. He wants to offer her a position as a piano teacher at a church in the backcountry. She would be gone for at least a month. After encouragement from her mom who is also a piano teacher, she excitedly agrees. Later that day the family lines up to see her off. Little Doc gives her his bean shooter for good luck. Mother gives her a grey ledger lesson book. Mary feels like the biblical David headed into battle. She suddenly becomes very nervous as she sees her mother’s pupil riding down the road. She calls out to her mother about if she will know what to do, and her mother replies that she will. Mr. Granther and Mary ride off towards the backcountry.

Mary talks to Mr. Granther. He tells her that she has students and will be living in his house. Mr. Granther mentions one of his children. Mary offers to teach his daughter piano for her board. Mary brings up his other child whom her father had told her about. Her name is Dorcas or Dorkie. Dorkie is odd and quiet. Her mother died in childbirth.

They reach his property. Mr. Granther tells her how his father gave the land to him when he was young. He expresses that he was very scared. He says he will always remember the feeling of being on his own for the first time.

They pass the church. Mr. Granther tells her she will be playing the organ there tonight. This is a surprise to Mary. Later, at the church, Mary is introduced to various members of the community. She is introduced as Big Doc’s girl.

She approaches the organ and cannot get it to play. A few kids laugh at her. She begins to play and feels safer. She started asking the community what their favorite songs were and then she would play them. People began to sing along. She eventually became conscious of other sounds like nature and horses, that added to the melody.

People in the crowd began talking about how they would be paying her for lessons. Mr. Granther mentioned that six people would be paying for lessons, but the room was full of children’s singing voices. She decides she will offer weekly singing lessons for free. Mr. Granther’s odd daughter Dorkie joins her at the keys and plays quite well. Mary has a surreal experience as if all of this has happened before. She has a flashback, of a moment when her mother grabbed a child’s knuckles during a lesson. She realizes she is doing the same thing to Dorkie. Everyone is silent.

Mary says she wants to teach them all a song that Big Doc would sing. Her memories become twisted of her youth, her mother has a teacher, and now she is a teacher. She wants to prove to Mr. Granther that she is teaching and that she can do it. She begins teaching the song to the crowd and instructing Dorkie on the organ.