Jim, who is forty-five, is sitting outside on his deck. He looks out at his neighbors, the Corley’s. He can see their yard but is not able to see into their house. Jim thinks of their daughter, who is sixteen, Ettie. Jim loves Ettie. Ettie is mentally challenged and is being sent to a special school soon. Jim wishes he could be with Ettie. However, the minister reminded Jim that as he was in jail four times, he will not be marrying Ettie. Ettie Corley comes out and sat on the back steps. Jim watches her.

Jim’s brother Jake joins Jim on the porch. Jake realizes that Jim is watching Ettie and tells him to stop. He tells Jim that he heard that the police are after him again. Jim goes inside feeling disgusted. Jim thinks the Corley's owe him because he bought them coal and fuel last winter. 

Jim goes to the Corley’s to hopefully patch things up with Ettie. He wants to buy her underwear. He gets his car and takes her into town to the store. Mrs. Corley sees him drive by the house. 

They go into town. Jim gives her money to go into the store. He imagines her making the purchase. She comes out and thanks him. He knows he could take care of her. The police approach him and arrest him using extreme force for a man who was not resisting arrest. Ettie screams and cries. They say he is under arrest for seduction and abduction. 

In jail, the police are extremely hospitable to Jim, giving him fancy food and board games. When the guard is going to get a checker-board for the game, the reverend pays a visit to Jim. He tells Jim it is likely he will receive life in prison with lots of lashes if found guilty. Jim is upset by this. The reverend leaves after trying to talk to Jim about Ettie--Jim would not respond. 

Jim lays in his bed and thinks of what the minister said about him receiving a life sentence. He remembers how he bought the fuel for the Corley’s. He also bought them food. He knew lots of people knows this, and that some people even thought Ettie would be lucky to marry him. He knew the people who arrested him could not understand this. 

So, he wants to prove it to them by gaining the support of the people in the town. He asks the guard to go outside. The guard permits this. It is sunset. Jim scales the prison wall and escapes. He takes off running and while he runs, he thinks of what he could do to convince the town that he and Ettie deserve to be together. He ran by the Corley’s house and yelled at Mrs. Corley, scaring her. He goes into his house and gets a gun. He answers the phone. It is the police. He says that he is out and going to stay out. He begins to feel helpless about the idea. 

A car approaches the house. It is the police. They arrest him again. Jim can’t think of anything to say and submits to the arrest. The officer tells him to he should be ashamed of himself.