11-year-oldKatinkalivesalonewithherthreesiblingsinanapartmentinSilverstreet.Here,theycandecideforthemselveswhentogotobed,iftheyfeellikebrushingtheirteeth,ordotheirhomework.That'showit'sbeeneversincetheirmotherdisappearedayearago.Butwhentheirabsentmotherstarttoarousesuspicionfromtheschoolprincipal,thesiblingsdeviseacleverplantoavoidbeingdiscoveredandsenttoanorphanage:Theywillhireahousekeeper.WhentheychoosethecolorfulMissNelly-amalehousekeeperinaskirtandhighheels-theplanchangescompletely.