Tom Haley, a science teacher, is doing research on the effects of nutrition on maze-learning ability in white rats. He compares the maze-learning ability of malnourished rats with their well-fed peers. While working on his rat project, Tom visits his girlfriend, Joanie, who suffers from chronic headaches. In desperation, he visits the site of his deceased friend, Amon, and begs for his help. When alive, the charismatic young man had extraordinary powers of healing, clairvoyance, and compassion. Soon Joanie is home again, happy and healthy. To earn extra money during his sabbatical leave, Tom works as a Bradford guard at the pollution-spewing Con Ed power plant, guarding the rude tycoon Darren Troop. He also does odd jobs painting and repairing dilapidated houses with Harry the Horse and his close-knit group of blue-collar workers. In between these jobs, Curtis principal Lou Stout calls on him to fill in for absent teachers, covering classes on the presidents, unions, democracy, photosynthesis, nutrition, motion, energy, the elements, and even philosophy. While doing manual labor, Tom meets interesting characters like Billy and his invisible companion and Rosa, who epitomizes the everyday people who keep this country running. Most importantly, he masters the rhythm of work in which time works for you in the course of doing a difficult job.