Tom is a fourteen year old Chinese boy who is confronted with the death of his mother. Tom returns to school, seeking normalcy, but is disturbed by recurring dreams of his mother that begin to fill his waking life. Ultimately, Tom is forced to deal with his denial of both anger and grief. The story explores the complex relationship between a boy and his mother. It is about the resentment he feels towards his mother's dependency, and the longing he feels for his mother's protective embrace.