The narrator tells us that the school year is coming to a close, and that Kate will be leaving for a teaching job in New York City. She's sad to be leaving, but she's also excited about the new school, Dover Academy, which is a private school. Kate and her dad are excited to be moving to New York, and they're both excited to see the city. Kate is excited to meet her new science teacher, Katherine, who's just moved to the school from Iowa with her father. The narrator is psyched to meet Katherine, but he's worried that she won't be able to keep up with the other students.