The story opens as a father discovers that his 9 year old boy, Schatz has fever. The father sends for the doctor and he diagnoses a mild case of influenza. The doctor says that the temperature is 102° and also prescribes three kinds of medicines and said the boy will be well if they avoid pneumonia and the fever did not go above 104°.
When father gives Schatz his medication, Schatz asks if he thinks the medication will help and the father answers affirmatively. After attempting to interest Schatz in the pirate book and foiling the father stopped reading. Then Schatz ask his father, when the father thinks Schatz will die. From this father came to know that Schatz had heard at school in France that no one can live with a temperature above 44, so Schatz thinks he is sure to die with temperature of 102. He has been waiting to die all day.
After the father explains the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius, Schatz relaxes, letting go of his iron self-control and the next day he allows himself to get upset over little things.
