The book narrates the story of Maama Barbara, a very rich and proud woman. She tries to make her children believe that every person is useless and not healthy associating with them.
Barbara, her daughter disagrees with this idea. Bernard, her son is a proud and rude as his mother.
In a turn of events, her children get involved in a deadly road accident as they head to school. Bernard is badly injured and has to spend months in hospital. The experience teaches Maama Barbara the bitter fact that, no one is useless.