Khaled is a resourceful 10-year-old boy surviving in the inner city of Toronto. He shares an apartment with his chain-smoking mother, helping her out with the daily chores as she becomes too ill to do them herself. Life in school is not any better. Along with his little Russian friend, Ivan, Khaled is bullied by a gang of kids, but he always gives as good as he gets. When his mother suddenly dies, Khaled chooses to keep her death a secret for fear of being sent to a foster home. He continues to go to school, mends his own clothes, and even figures out a way to pay the electricity bill on his own. But the crooked building manager soon comes looking for the rent, the persistent social worker starts asking more questions, and the neighbours begin to notice a strange smell coming from the apartment. When Ivan comes to danger through his involvement in the plot, Khaled is forced to choose between his friend and his secret.