The one thing Ginny Ruth wants is a chance to get out of her dirt-poor town of Clemmons, Texas. She longs for her Paw, who would understand her ambition to be a writer. But Paw deserted the family three years ago, and now Ginny Ruth feels alone, unable to make anyone understand her determination to escape. So who would guess that the elderly and afflicted Mr. Billy would become Ginny Ruth's kindred spirit, and help her see the way to better times?