The story is set in the early 1980s and the characters must deal with the issues of that era: teen-age drug pushers, pot smoking, the distribution of birth control pills to teen-agers, the legality of abortion, teen-agers experimenting with premarital sex, and child abuse. In addition to having to deal with these timely issues, the characters must survive the restrictive atmosphere of life in the small town of Runneymede, New Jersey, where gossip and rumors run rampant. Because Nicki's brothers are both important men in town, they are the target of town gossips. Tony, the high school teacher and football coach handles the rumors by ignoring them, causing a situation which advances the plot. The rumors are widely spread that Eric, the football star, must be Tony's son by an extramarital affair. Because of the uncertainty created, Eric himself believes this rumor and seeks attention in unacceptable ways...