Millicent Torkelson does what she can to hold her family together as it shrinks to just her and her five children, between the ages of fourteen and six, after her husband Randy abandons the family. Randy eventually returns for a short time, but the couple end up divorcing. Millicent perpetually struggles as the sole financial provider, getting so far in debt that even her home appliances get repossessed. In dire need of income and another adult in the household, Millicent rents out the basement to Wesley "Boarder" Hodges who quickly finds himself part of the family.