Ernst, 17, tells his American pen-friend about his worries. He is to leave school soon and will have to decide what he to do, a difficult task. An unfortunate incident is not inoppurtune.

Anna and Ulrike are very different siblings. Anna is almost grown up, has a large circle of friends and gets on well with everything in life. Ulrike, a few years younger, is quite the opposite. She lives in a world of pipe dreams, can't fit in anywhere well and Anna is the victim of her countless fantasy fairy tales.