The story begins with a young woman in a jail cell. The reason for her incarceration is not known. She is looking out of the window and sees that the sun has stopped in its course. She calls the jailer excitedly. He hears what she has to say then walks away uninterested.

Details that provide a view into the story's world are next presented ("white people" and "Gussucks" are named; the cold Alaskan world is fully sensed). Random thoughts from the girl's consciousness are presented (thoughts of "Gussuck" arrogance make her laugh). She thinks of her village and her cabin there; she thinks about the previous summer when she nailed red tin over the logs of the cabin.

The story now moves into the past. The girl's decision to go to school, out of curiosity, and because she is tired of being cooped up with her...