What's in a name? Memories of past times are stored in 'Old Oak Common', 'Greenpond Road', and 'Samara' - the Russian river that gave its name to a city and to a Soviet era vehicle … and to Samara Jameson, a young British teacher. The story follows Samara as she finds her way within the ecosystems of her mother’s ready-meals, her school and - when she volunteers for canvassing - the local Labour Party. Party politics, pride and prejudice, are all at play as the ripples from a visit to Greenpond Road spread out through Samara's life.