When Heidi arrives at the Sesemann household in Frankfurt, Klara is a lonely, wheelchair-bound girl whose mother has died and whose father is often away. Klara is immediately charmed by Heidi’s simple friendliness and her stories of life in the Alps. Heidi’s naïveté and lively spirit bring joy and amusement to Klara, who delights in Heidi's company and the misadventures that ensue, despite the disapproval of the strict housekeeper, Fräulein Rottenmeier