Melinda's world is very small. Her dour parents, members of a religious sect, forbid the celebration of birthdays or holidays. Melinda finds solace in small things: a spun silver spider web, her box of treasures, and a stolen afternoon at Silver Lake on her "day of days." As the movie and the year progresses, Melinda experiences ageless comforts and pains. A disgraced famous writer and a waylaid college professor, two exiles in the small Mid-Western town, haunt the edges of her sheltered life. An earthy, warmhearted waitress introduces her to the blues and a fizzy drink called Cola-Cola. She receives her first explorative attention from a boy. Escalating tragedy shatters Melinda's innocence. Devastated, she flees into the night where, by drawing on her tenacious spirit, she ultimately triumphs.

El mundo de Melinda es muy pequeño. Sus padres, miembros de una secta religiosa, prohíben la celebración de cumpleaños o días festivos. Melinda encuentra consuelo en las cosas pequeñas: una tela de araña de plata hilada, su caja de tesoros y una tarde robada en Silver Lake en su "día de días".