Children in their formative years often learned secrets and gained an understanding of a wider world through the hole in the ceiling. Now as adults, they share for the first time their cherished memories of overheard conversations that have shaped their lives—stories of humour, heartache, and joy—from friends, relatives, and visitors to their childhood homes.

The character of Newfoundland and Labrador comes shining through in this treasury of shared experiences collected by retired teacher Anne Galway, who has seen the value of the unique and fascinating education that can be gained through the hole in the ceiling.