Brenda's grandfather watches Brenda jump rope outside the house in the early morning. Brenda is on a self-induced workout and diet regimen in preparation for the fifth and sixth graders' gymnastics demonstration during the final meeting of the PTA. Brenda is overweight and the only student still unable to propel herself over the vaulting horse. When Brenda comes into the kitchen, she and her grandfather drink orange juice — he is following the same diet as Brenda, though he sometimes cheats during the day while she's at school. Her grandfather tells Brenda that she doesn't have to participate in the demonstration if she doesn't want to. Still, Brenda is adamant that it is essential.

After he drives Brenda to school, Brenda's grandfather returns home. His neighbor, Mrs. Eberhard, comes over for lunch, and they worry about Brenda together. In the afternoon, Brenda's grandfather walks over to the school to get Brenda. She admits that her gym teacher, Mr. Clayton, tried to convince her not to participate in the demonstration that evening because she once again failed in class to make it over the vaulting horse. Brenda and her grandfather eat a small dinner. Brenda tells her grandfather that she feels energetic and ready for the demonstration. Brenda joins her classmates when they arrive at the school for the PTA meeting while her grandfather stands among a crowd of parents. He talks with Brenda's kindergarten teacher, who says that she is so sorry to hear about Brenda's mother's death. When the gymnastics demonstration starts, Brenda's grandfather shouts that the expectations of the exhibition are too much to put on such young children. When it's Brenda's turn, she looks into the crowd for her grandfather, who waves from against a far wall.