Lotte Stig

Years ago, Lepel's parents left an hot air balloon world tour. He stays with granny Koppenol, who constantly exploits him for domestic chores, in her buttons shop and even as accomplice in the department store where she steals the buttons from clothes. After she won't even leave him the balloon kind salesman Max gave him, Lepel, now 9, runs away. He meets Max's slightly older daughter Pleun. Schoolmaster Bijts is also looking for him, but only as arithmetics talent for an academic schools contest. Max accidentally finds out the sad truth about Lepel's family.

Jelle lives with his father, an old-fashioned organ grinder. Standing in the street, they earn a living grinding the organ Rosalinda, an honest but tedious existence. Adolescent Jelle's loyalty is put to the test when his gabber-house friends expect him at a big dance party that coincides with shopping night, which is important for his father's income. Jelle is faced with the impossible choice between his dad and his friends.