Tuck, a young boy, goes alone to spend some time with his aunt, uncle, and grandfather at the family farm on the American prairie. Now that he is seven, he is old enough to stay up for evening prayers and sleep in his own room. That evening, his grandfather prays for deliverance from the evils of the night. After the prayers, Tuck's uncle checks on something outside, as they suspect rainfall soon. Tuck goes to bed, no longer afraid of the dark. He falls asleep dreaming of all the grown-up things he'll be able to do know that he's older. He wakes up in the middle of the night as thunder and lightning surround the house. Tuck's aunt comes in his room to close the window before it rains. As she looks out the window, however, she hollers for her husband, as she has seen that the barn outside has been hit by lightning. The farmhouse comes alive as the family springs into action. Tuck follows his family outside, and watches as his grandfather and uncle save the animals and equipment from the burning barn while his aunt brings pails of water. When everything is out, they realize that the flames are too big to save the barn itself, so they leave the barnyard. As they all watch the barn roof cave in, it begins to rain. By the time they make it inside the farmhouse, they are soaking wet. Tuck is disappointed that his visit has been ruined and questions the efficacy of his grandfather's prayers. The following morning, Tuck realizes that the barn burning was not a dream. He sees that the barn has been reduced to a blackened, fence-high mound. He goes outside and sees his uncle, who has returned from feeding the animals in the pasture. Tuck's uncle tells him to come inside for morning prayers. The boy wonders why they are praying when God didn't answer their last prayers, but he goes inside anyway. While they pray, Tuck realizes that the ritual of morning prayers is important even if the prayers themselves don't seem to work and that life goes on.