Susie Tarleton, an eight-year-old white girl, plays with Pinky, her nanny Aunt Hester’s daughter who is her age. Susie knows she should be more proper and not play messily in the backyard, but she adores Pinky and enjoys spending time with her. They play under a big oak tree. Susie thinks of the little white girl soon moving into the plantation next to her, Alice Louise Pratt. She thinks Alice will love playing with Pinky. Susie and Pinky play with flowers to have a “penny-poppy show” which involves burying flowers and covering the dirt with glass to look through.   The following morning, Susie feels eager to meet Alice but freezes when she sees her come out of an expensive car, attended by a white male servant. Susie feels flustered when comparing herself to Alice’s perfection. When they meet, Alice doesn’t like the sound of any of Susie’s game suggestions, so Susie suggests they find Pinky since she knows more games. Under the oak tree, Pinky arrives to meet them, and Alice stares at her coldly. She tells the girls she would prefer to look over Susie’s mother’s fashion books and requests Pinky to fetch them for her. Susie nervously goes along with Alice, asking Pinky to bring a pitcher of water and her mother’s fashion books. As Pinky soberly walks away to fetch the items, Susie feels angered at Alice but doesn't do anything.   Alicia yells at Susie for spending time with Pinky and says that Susie is too big to play with her now. Susie is apologetic and says Pinky grew up with her. Susie feels resolved not to let anyone stop her from playing with Pinky. When Pinky returns, Susie sees how dramatically her manner changes, as if they had never met. Pinky becomes more like a maid who knows her place, and when she places the items beside Alice and curtsies, Susie’s heart hurts. Pinky then leaves, and Susie plays with Alice reluctantly, wishing for her to be gone soon. When Alice returns home, Susie runs back to the oak tree and calls for Pinky.   Susie hears Aunt Hester scolding Pinky as they approach. Aunt Hester tells Pinky that they cannot play together anymore, and such a day was bound to come. Pinky approaches Susie slowly and says she can’t play with her anymore. Susie feels like her heart is breaking but keeps a solemn look. She tells Pinky she heard Aunt Hester. Pinky asks if she needs anything before she goes back, but Susie just nods to her as Alicia did. Susie feels tears coming, but mimics Alicia’s tone, and tells Pinky she doesn’t care for anything. Pinky turns and walks back home.