Nearly every day, Adrian goes to school with knots in his stomach. He feels different and alone. Whenever the teacher calls on him, his heart pounds and time stops. But he finds respite in his rich imagination, a world full of color and joy in which he is a circus performer, capable of spectacular feats. One day Adrian encounters a huge wolfhound that seems to be lost. He names her Heidi, takes her home, and the two become inseparable. Heidi's presence provides friendship and tranquility, and even enables Adrian to read aloud in front of the class. This brief period of happiness ends when Heidi is reunited with her owner and Adrian finds himself alone again, until a chance meeting leads to a heartwarming discovery.