Zezé is a poor, intelligent, sensitive, and needy six-year-old boy. He lacks affection, which he doesn't find in his family – nobody has much patience with him. The mischievous little boy roams the streets getting into all sorts of trouble. He learns everything on his own; he's a "discoverer of things." He realizes that life has joys, like having a friend, and also sorrows, like when a friend leaves forever. One of his greatest surprises is realizing he can sing without opening his mouth – that is, he can think of a song and let it play in his head.