 The story involves Rose Chismore s youth. She flashes back and remembers her coming-of-age. Her recollections are sometimes less than sweet, particularly those of her troubled and alcoholic step-father. Her memories of Robin, her first-love, are much happier and she also recalls her colorful Aunt Starr -- who s visit is fun but also detrimental to her family s health. The setting of 1950s Las Vegas  bomb testing is increasingly significant to the development of the story.