When Victor finds out one morning that his wife has left him and neglected to at least buy milk for the kids, he finds that things can only get worse when he s fired from his job on the same day. He ends up searching through a list of friends and family for someone who will listen to his grief and give some advice. The only person who does give him attention is Michou, a clumsy, not-too-intelligent street pauper whom Victor finds irritating. Victor finally sees Michou in a positive light when he realizes that his insensitivity to those closest to him has been a major reason for all his woes.