Set in a small town of Stillwater, Minnesota, Erik is a 13-year-old adolescent loner with an emotionally abusive and neglectful workaholic mother, Gail, who hardly spends time with him. His father, who treated Erik considerably better than his mother, lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dexter, an 11-year-old boy who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, is Erik's neighbor. Initially, Dexter is put off by Erik, but they become both good friends despite their differences. Erik seeks a family in Dexter and his congenial mother, Linda, due to his bad relationship with Gail, but Erik keeps the friendship a secret from her, knowing that Gail won't approve due to her own prejudice in regards to AIDS.