SomethingMissieintheLifeofJordanBankisanunsettlingtaleoflossandmisdirectedlove.Asachild,Jordanwithdrawsdeepintotheworldofhisownimaginationduetoconstantridiculefromhispeers.AnintenseinterestinscienceandthecareofhismenagerieofanimalstakesupmostofJordan'stime.Hisclosesthumancompanionishismother,whosetendencytoperiodicallydriftintosleepisasourceofconcernforJordan.Heintuitivelysuspectsthathismotherisactuallysufferingfromamuchmoreseriousconditionthatmaythreatenherlife.OnChristmas,Jordanisoverjoyedwhenhefinallyreceivestheonlygifthehasalwayswanted:arealpetmonkey.Howevernotlongafterhegetsher,Missiethemonkeyiskilledinatragicaccident.Devastated,Jordanblameshimselfforherdeath.Hecannotfacethepossibilityoflosinghismotheraswell.Asanadult,Jordandevotedlycaresforhisdecliningmotherwhilehestrivestobecomealeadinggeneticengineer.