A Jean Little Classic Ben isn't sure he wants to visit Aunt Rose while his parents and older brother are away. He doesn't like admitting it, but he's afraid of a lot of things—dogs, thunderstorms, new places, new people.

Aunt Rose turns out to be much nicer than Ben expected, but then she presents him with a birthday gift that terrifies him—a big Labrador retriever named Gully. How can Ben tell her he's afraid even to be in the same room with Gully? And how can he tell Hana, his new friend?