Billy, a fourteen-year-old boy living in Port William, Kentucky in 1938, is like any other boy his age: adventurous, restless, and a little bit mischievous. One day, Billy decides to go fishing at the Blue Hole, a small pond in his neighborhood. Upon arriving and setting up his pole, Billy sees a glare of light through the trees -- the top of a car. Not used to seeing anyone else out there, Billy goes to investigate the strange sight. There, he sees two people having sex. Billy quickly returns to his fishing pole only for the car to drive by a few minutes later. In it are Mr. Forrest La Vere, a wealthy man running for public office, and a woman Billy doesn't recognize. The next Sunday afternoon, Billy returns to the fishing hole and sure enough, he watches Mr. La Vere drive into the forested area, but Billy stays with his fishing pole. A week later, when Billy sees the car, he decides to get a closer look. He walks towards where the car is now parked and climbs to the highest branch of a nearby Boxwood. Mr. La Vere and the mysterious woman begin to have sex, when all of a sudden Billy's branch snaps right off the tree. Both the branch and Billy land right atop the couple. Billy scrambles away without them seeing his face. Three years go by and Billy doesn't tell the story to a soul. But, one day, while he's out hunting with his father's friend Burley, Billy tells him the tale. Soon enough, the story becomes legend in the town of Port William. As years go by and the town's men are sent off to World War II, including Billy, Port William begins to change. As the men of Billy's youth, including his father and Burley grow old, and the town warps around them, the story ceases to be the great unifier it once was.