The story revolves around the life of a girl named Jessica, who has a condition called myopia, making it hard for her to see clearly unless objects are within two inches of her face. Jessica has a younger sister, Betty, who is known for her wild and careless behavior. Their mother left them when they were young, leaving Betty in charge while their father worked.
As they grew older, Betty often left them alone, leading to dangerous situations. One such instance was when Jessica and her sister Sarah were left at an ice cream parlor by Betty, who forgot to return. They got lost and ended up spending hours finding their way home. Another time, Betty left them in a mall while she went on a date, causing them to get lost again.
Jessica is often bullied at school due to her myopia, and her sister Betty's return as a substitute teacher complicates matters. Jessica has a crush on Raymond, a boy in her class, but she believes she doesn't stand a chance. However, things change when Betty's new teaching style helps Jessica stand up to her bullies, including Annie, who accidentally breaks Jessica's glasses and causes a brawl.
Jessica's mother returns to the family after many years, and Jessica feels sorrow and regret for leaving her family. However, Jessica, Betty, and Sarah eventually forgive their mother and welcome her back into their lives. The story ends with Jessica and her mother finding common ground, as both suffer from myopia.
1. The narrator is blind due to a condition called myopia, which makes it hard for them to see anything clearly unless it's two inches away from their face.
2. The narrator has two older sisters, Betty and Sarah.
3. Betty is often the one in charge when their mother is away, and she has been described as a "crazy substitute mom".
4. In the past, Betty has been careless, leading to a serious incident in the second grade when Sarah was up on the roof wearing a red t-shirt as a cape.
5. The narrator's mother is a marine biologist, and she left the family when the family's research boat got lost at sea.
6. The family was reunited with their mother, who had left them to be with another man.
7. The narrator has a crush on a boy named Raymond, but knows she doesn't have a chance with him.
8. The narrator's mother returns to the family's life after leaving for another man.
9. The narrator's mother tries to reconnect with the family, but is initially met with resistance from Betty.
10. The narrator's mother eventually wins back the family's trust and love.
11. The narrator's mother and Betty eventually reconcile and become close again.
12. The narrator's mother has a new love interest, a man who is much younger than her.
13. The narrator's mother and Betty have a lot in common, including their shared experiences as the mother figure in the family.
14. The narrator's mother and Betty have a lot in common, including their shared experiences as the mother figure in the family.