A car accident on a Souix Reservation leaves a young boy and his siblings homeless. They are sent to live on a farm, where his much older stepbrother is recuperating from his war injuries. Clarence only agrees to move because of his brothers and sisters, for whom he has been the main caregiver and disciplinarian.
He finds it very difficult to adjust. He hates school, and doesn't do well there. He has trouble with cultural changes, new people and situations; but mostly, the stack of rules. His old life; though not the best, was a life he understood. He will give it a chance, but seriously considers running away.