A boy is seventeen and fancies Sissy Whitley, a young girl who is turning eighteen. Sissy is not traditionally beautiful but the boy has strong feelings for her. One night they are coming home from church and she falls and he catches her. The girl wants him to kiss her but the boy doesn’t know this. She says that Dennis Sawyer says she is one of the best girls around. The boy inquires about Deniss’ wife. Sissy says she is doing poorly and will likely die. He walks her home.  At breakfast the next day, the boy talks to Dennis Sawyer about Sissy. Dennis runs a sawmill where the boy works. Dennis is angry that the boy is disrespecting God by not taking his sermon seriously and only thinking about Sissy. The boy tries to appease Dennis, and starts to call him Uncle Dennis. They begin talking about marriage and second wives. The boy remembers how he used to be scared of Uncle Dennis. He is pious but also has a mean streak.  They continue discussing marriage and a man who got duped by his second marriage. The boy goes to work and promptly goes to see Sissy when he is done.  They go on a walk under the moonlight and talk. He thinks about how he feels comfortable around her. He never felt this way around other folks he interacted with, like Tom and his sister Mary Hornbeak. Mary and the boy had a brief flirtatious stint. Sissy brings up Mary and the boy tries to say he stopped writing her letters when he fell in love with Sissy, but his tongue feels swollen from nerves. Eventually, he says he stopped talking to Mary because he's talking to Sissy instead. Sissy is flattered and kisses him. He tells he loves her. The boy also reveals that Dennis, whose wife is dying, has his eye on Sissy to be his second wife. They kiss more. Sissy starts talking about being Dennis’ second wife and secretly being with the boy. The plan is to use Dennis for money and then get married when Dennis is broke. The boy feels hurt and begs her not to do it. They part ways.  When he gets home, Dennis’ wife is dead. The boy is disgusted by how Dennis waited around for her to die just so he could marry a younger woman.  The boy continues to see Sissy who tries to pacify and comfort the boy with respect to her plan. The boy stays with Sissy.  Dennis said he was going to wait to make his offer to Sissy, but he doesn’t. Dennis gaslights the boy and tells him to not be so upset about his marrying Sissy and that someday, the boy can have a second wife of his own. The boy makes a rude comment. The boy decides to stay so he can watch over Sissy. Sissy and Dennis are to be married. They have a huge fight about the wedding which the boy overhears. They fight a lot and Dennis always gives in to Sissy’s arguments.  Sissy and the boy meet up one night. The boy attempts to convince her to marry him. She will not; she is tired of being poor. On the day of the wedding, the boy is in his room where he boards at Dennis’ property. He finally resigns to the plan. He decides to stick around for a few years and then marry Sissy and run off with her. He notices a letter on his table that he doesn’t read. He goes to the wedding. He sees Sissy and finds her beautiful. He watches them get married. He thinks Sissy gives him a sign that everything will be okay. The boy feels sick and leaves immediately after the ceremony ends.  He opens the letter which is from Mary inquiring when the boy will be coming home as he has been gone away working for Dennis for so long. The boy realizes he doesn’t want to wait for Sissy. He packs and leaves, presumably for Mary. The boy thinks men only marry second wives because it is youth that they desire.