In which Milt Daggett arrives in the sprawling city of Seattle, confronting a world vastly different from the open roads and simple towns he knows, and struggles with feelings of alienation and the complex social circles surrounding Claire Boltwood. Amidst his efforts to settle into university life and maintain his dignity, Milt experiences the poignant mixture of hope, longing, and self-doubt that accompanies a young man standing on the threshold of new beginnings.