Rebecca is a vivacious 6½ year-old girl whose best friend happens to be a germ named Ernest. He's not only Rebecca's best friend -- he's also her partner in mischief, adventure companion, and confidant. In this third volume of the award-winning series, Rebecca and her older sister Coralie are sent to spend the summer in the countryside with their grandparents, away from their mother and father, without Ernest. Lost and scared without her friend, Rebecca misses her parents, experiencesnightmares, and misbehaves in order to deal with her anxieties. Things begin to change when Rebecca begins spending time with a dog named "Missile" and her "Grandpa Bug," both of whom want nothing more than to be her friend. The only way for Rebecca to break out of her misery is to accept their offer of friendship, and learn to live without Ernest.