This is the story of Dade Dollar. He moves with his family to a farm. He lures a dog to become his dog. A dog which saves Dades life, protects him from a bully and gets trapped under a chicken coop roof when a violent storm blows it off. Dade wins a duck at a festival. The duck comes at his call and is a friend to Dades friends at the swimming hole. Dade meets a girl and gets his first kiss. Dade goes to a fair bringing home an uninvited guest. Dade is bed ridden and his friends and a wagon make him mobile. A small bird with a broken wing dies Dade the will to find his feet. Dade's adventures are about growing up in the country.