Montgomery "Monty" Adams has traveled to Mortonville, Pennsylvania and is staying with his Uncle Leo, who he hasn't seen since he was 6. Monty's mom, a zoologist, will be traveling to the jungles of Borneo to study orangutans at the end of summer, leaving Monty for a year. Leo is a scientist who spends most of his time doing experiments. Monty is sad that his cousin Nan is away at camp until near the end of summer, as they get along, share interests, and both have single parents. That night, Monty seems to dream that a man is using a scalpel on him.