The story opens with Penny, the protagonist, walking home from school in the winter. The specific details about the setting help establish the time period and the atmosphere:
* Winter: The story takes place in the winter, indicated by the cold weather and the fact that Penny is wearing a coat.
* Upper West Side: The description of "the long block with its brownstone houses and the park at the end" points to the Upper West Side neighborhood in Manhattan.
* Brownstone houses: This is a characteristic feature of the Upper West Side, especially in the early to mid-20th century.
* Park: This is likely referring to Central Park, which is a defining landmark of the Upper West Side.
These details create a sense of urban life in the middle of the 20th century, which is essential to the story's themes of poverty, social class, and resilience.