Trapped opens on a winter day in a small New England town. Weather reports predict a nor’easter, a type of storm specific to the New England region that involves large amounts of snowfall in a short period of time. Scotty Weems (known as Weems) is the narrator, a sophomore, and a basketball player. The story centers around Weems and six other kids, “the last seven kids waiting around to get picked up from Tattawa Regional High School” (1).

Weems explains that the storm lasted for a week, including that “they still show the picture on TV sometimes” (2). Even in a place like New England, where governments are prepared for winter weather, this storm dropped so much snow that even the plows couldn’t get through. Weems and the other six kids remained trapped in their school during the storm and wondered if there would be anyone to pick them up when the storm ended.

Weems repeats he’s the narrator and tells the reader they are stuck with him. They don’t get a choice because, of the seven kids trapped, “not all of us made it” (6).

Jason asks Weems and Pete if they’ll stay late with him to work on his shop class project.