Finding a lady bug swarm on her dog’s nose, smelling the “first spring mow” and making the willow tree into a swamp cooler is all part of young PT Caldwell’s life on the farm. When Papa is called into the army during World War II, his absence leaves a painful gap in her heart, a gap that only begins to mend as she learns that love can span the distance between them. Catching fog in a jar, and buttering her hands for the “candy pullin’”, her rural life helps her grow through her papa’s absence, exploring her own inner world as well as the natural outer world of her family farm in Samosa County. She becomes an astute observer of her small community, her own conflicts, including her disturbing reactions to Papa’s leaving and fear of his dying. Her close-knit family and friends help PT to overcome her anger, enabliing her to appreciate the “little things” that make life special.