In the story, Annie is a highly intelligent fourth grader who consistently outperforms her peers in math. Her confidence and exceptional abilities lead her to belittle others, calling them "dummies" and expressing frustration when they struggle to keep up. Despite her talent, her behavior becomes a concern for her teacher, who feels that Annie's demeaning attitude is negatively impacting her classmates' learning experiences.

Annie's parent, when approached by the teacher, defends Annie by emphasizing her advanced intellect and suggesting that she should be rewarded rather than disciplined. The story highlights the tension between recognizing a child's exceptional abilities and addressing the negative behavior that may accompany it.