The summer of 1952 is a very auspicious year for Frederick Aslop, known to family and friends as Freddy, a twelve-year old living in Golden, Colorado. The thing he looks forward to most is television finally reaching Colorado. However, something more important alters his life-a new friend named Jake, whom Freddy knows for only a few weeks. Jake is a foster child who seems to be living in fear. He is reluctant to talk about his past life in the mountain city of Leadville.