Kid, a boy of seven, lives with his mother and older brother Billy on a farm outside a small town. Abandoned by their father three years earlier, they have been forced to fend for themselves. Gradually, Kid's mother sells off everything on the farm until nothing is left. When she leaves, the two boys must move in with their uncle and aunt. Kid acts out in various ways as he grapples with the fears and anxieties of his new world. His behavior begins to alienate the people around him, while inside he secretly holds out hope that his mother will return.