Quiet, shy Flora Young has more on her hands than most girls of her age. Her teacher Dad's too busy trying to please his boss to have time for her and her little brother Tim, so it's up to Flora to look after all three of them. And now her teacher, the brisk Mrs Camp, has decided that she wants Flora to play Old Father Time in the school production - wearing a dirty old mask found in the back of the stock-cupboard Putting on the mask makes Flora feel strange - in charge - and it soon becomes clear that it's having a peculiar effect on Mrs Camp, too. But just how long is this going to last? And how can Flora make the most of her new found confidence while it does?