When a mother living in suburban Vermont promises her daughter Jannie that she can have a slumber party for her birthday, the rest of the family complains. Laurie, her eldest son, worries about the noise, and her husband thinks that four additional guests in the house will be too many to handle. Despite this, the mother persists, determined to give Jannie the same slumber party experience that she had when she was young. On the evening of her birthday, Jannie's excitement is palpable as she prepares for the party. During dinner, she can barely eat. They have cake and Jannie's parents and siblings give her presents, including a new record player. When everything is prepared, the guests begin to arrive. All night, the house is full of noise as the children battle for dominance of the soundscape, each trying to drown out the others with their favorite music. After telling Jannie to turn off the record player, the mother enjoys a few moments of quiet before the chatter of the party rises. Exhausted, the mother tells Jannie and her friends that it's time for bed but then spends several more hours sorting out sleeping arrangements that are entangled in the dynamic and complex social world of middle schoolers. When she finally puts everyone to bed, the mother settles down for sleep herself, only to be awoken by her daughter, who announces that one of the guests is sick and needs to go home.