Quincy Rumpel wants pierced ears, curly hair, and a Save the Whales T-shirt. Her sister, Leah, wants pierced ears, too, while her brother Morris longs for a dog. Mrs. Rumpel hopes for rain to keep her umbrella shop in business, and Mr. Rumpel begs the mushrooms in his garage to grow. The neighbors just can't decide whether having the Rumpels next door is the best or the worst thing that ever happened to them.