Greg explains that since his and Rowley's fight in the previous book, their friendship is history. Greg's mother Susan goes back to college to stimulate her mind and the Heffley men must take care of themselves. Food is often ruined and Greg is short of clean clothes. Greg's father Frank makes Greg responsible for waking himself up. Greg puts his alarm clock under his bed, but the ticking sounds like a bomb and he cannot sleep.

He accidentally activates the school fire alarm and the school closes early. Frank is not happy to be called from work to pick up Greg.