A young boy of about 11 struggles to fit in with the usual activities concerned with life, especially at at school . He is somewhat timid and nervous and as a result often finds himself alienated from most of his contemporaries. This manifests itself , for example , in the problems he has with gymnastics and especially swimming. The arrival of a young and sympathetic teacher starts a turnaround in his life.

Associate Professor Čuhel is planning a vacation with his wife, son, and grandmother. To his wife's disappointment, not to the sea, but to the Tatras. However, at night, he is overcome by a microsleep while driving and drives the car into the water. So the family has to stay in the cottage of the willing Mr. Dorňák until the car is repaired.