Daniel “Skippy” Juster, a second-year student at Seabrook College, suddenly collapses at Ed’s Doughnut House. Skippy’s roommate, Ruprecht Van Doren, initially assumes that he has won their doughnut-eating race. He soon panics when he realizes that Skippy has eaten none of his doughnuts. Skippy uses the last of his strength to write the words “TELL LORI” in syrup on the floor. Ruprecht is unsure what Skippy means, but a girl from the nearby school, St. Brigid’s, clarifies that he wants to say that he loves her. Skippy smiles and then dies. Ruprecht exits the doughnut shop in shock.

The narrative flashes back to earlier in the term. Howard Fallon, a history teacher at Seabrook, struggles to get his second-year students interested in World War I. As a Seabrook alumnus who initially worked in finance, Howard remembers his schooldays and the promise of adult life. At this time, Seabrook is undergoing a transition, gradually turning over from clerical to lay management.

Howard listens in on the class of Miss McIntyre, an attractive substitute geography teacher, as her class is ending. They speak afterward and exit the school together.