This is the story of Eve, a taxidermist who agrees to honor a rather unusual order: the creation of a hamster-lion, which results in a most unexpected rivalry with a boy and his mother. This is also the story of Eve and the solitude she imposed on herself after her mother's death when she was but a girl. It is the story of how Eve has cut her father out of her life, although he lives just upstairs from her. And finally, it is the story of Eve's helpful Neighbor. He helps her with her strange rivalry. He helps her rebuild her relationship with her father. And last but far from least, he helps Eve find her place in the world.