Henry Marie wants a pet so badly, she can almost taste it. She would be happy with a pony, or a kitten, or even a baby brother. But her parents always have some excuse: They can't keep a pony in their neighborhood. A kitten would make Henry and her father sneeze. Her parents keep pointing out that they do have a dog. But Scout is her father's and Scout's slow and, well, boring. He won't chase a ball or anything! What Henry wants -- what Henry needs -- is a pet of her very own.

Just when she has about given up hope, Henry's father comes home with a fuzzy little yellow head and a rosy beak peeking out of the top pocket of his overalls. Henry immediately falls in love with the duckling's sweet, smiling face and gives her the prettiest name she can think of: Rosalie.

And that's when the trouble begins.