Summer 1955 is winding down and twins Jeanie and Georgie are looking forward to returning to school. They've worked hard all summer to earn money to buy needed school items and are eagerly preparing for their freshman year in high school. The circus comes to their small town of Berlin and Jo, with her twin siblings, are excited to sit on the curb to watch the elephants with their trainers. Shortly, Jeanie and Jo both fall ill with headaches and fever. Jo recovers but Jeanie is taken to the hospital. Within days, the Wentland family is torn inside out as the twins succumb to polio and die...