Near Christmas time in the American south, a family from Jefferson County is preparing to go to Grandpa’s in Mottstown. A seven-year-old boy Georgie is curious as no one ever gives Grandpa a Christmas gift. He feels that this is not fair. He thinks of how they will all get gifts tomorrow. He thinks of how Uncle Rodney might pry open his grandfather’s desk and give him some money if he helps him like he did last Christmas. Uncle Rodney recently got a job at the Compress Association.

Georgie thinks about all his family and their presents. Georgie was curious as to why Grandpa was always angry when he saw the gifts that Uncle Rodney gave. His parents laughed at his inquiry and commented that it is not Uncle Rodney’s fault that he works hard for his money. Georgie remembers the family drama caused by Uncle Rodney’s borrowing of family money and not paying it back.

When Uncle Rodney was around during the summer and winter, Georgie unknowingly helped Uncle Rodney have sex with married women and steal from their husbands. Uncle Rodney would pay Georgie to stand outside of properties and give a signal if he saw the husband of his lover. When this was over, Georgie would receive payment. They never talked about what went on during this time.

As the family is preparing to go to their grandpa’s, Georgie talks to his sister Rosie in the house. The train is not due for two hours. Suddenly, Mamma rushes in and explains that John Paul told her of Aunt Louisa’s arrival. They go to load the car to go pick up Papa and Aunt Louisa at the hotel, even though John Paul tells them that Papa told him to pick them up at the stable. On the way to the hotel, Georgie again brings up the issue of there not being a present for Grandpa. Georgie explains to his family that he even got a present for his Uncle Rodney with his own money. John Paul laughed and explained he was laughing at the idea of giving Uncle Rodney anything of use. Georgie is confused. The banter continues. John Paul says that Georgie's dad must want to give Uncle Rodney the job of work. Georgie explains that Uncle Rodney did work all last summer. John Paul laughs again. Georgie dismisses the conversation by saying that Uncle Rodney does indeed have a job at the Compress Association either way.  

They pick up Aunt Louisa and Papa and head back to the stable. Aunt Louisa begins crying for an unknown reason and then Papa yells a racial slur at John Paul. Georgie thinks this all has to do with a present for Grandpa. Papa sends John Paul to go on the train with Rosie and that the others will drive to Grandpa's house. Once they are on the road again, Aunt Louisa expresses that Uncle Rodney did not come home to dinner the previous night but came home late. Uncle Rodney told her in privacy then that he owed two thousand dollars. Aunt lousier tells them that Uncle Rodney told her to ask her husband or George, who is Georgie’s Papa, for the money. Uncle Rodney then became angry with her. Then there had been a knock on the door. It was Mr. Pruitt of the Compress Association and the sheriff. Aunt Louisa begged for them to wait until after the holiday to confront Uncle Rodney as it would hurt Grandpa if he found out right then. They said they would give Uncle Rodney until the day after Christmas so long as Uncle Rodney did not flee the area. The duo shows Aunt Louisa a check that Uncle Rodney had placed in the Compress Association safe when he stole bonds from the company. The check was stolen from the family’s grandpa. Uncle Rodney stole bonds from his job to redeem the Grandma's road bonds.

The family in the car becomes very emotional as this will be detrimental to the family image.  Aunt Louisa continues the story of how Uncle Rodney stole from Grandpa and then subsequently stole two-thousand five hundred dollars in bonds from Granma, and finally stole bonds from his job at the Compress Association. After Mr. Pruitt and the sheriff told her they would give Uncle Rodney until after Christmas, Aunt Louisa went upstairs to talk to him. However, he was missing.   

Papa is angry that no one knows where the bonds are. Papa is driving fast. Aunt Louisa and Mamma had begun are crying. Papa mentions that if only Mr. Pruitt had lived in Mottstown for a few more months, he would never have offered Uncle Rodney the job. Uncle Rodney was infamous for having affairs with the wives in town. They make it to Grandpa's town of Mottstown and Georgie admires the holiday décor and looks forward to the Christmas eve fireworks. Papa tries to tell Georgie about his time growing up in this town. Aunt Louisa brings up that Mr. Pruitt was married and that Mrs. Pruitt only had the affair with Uncle Rodney because he was young and easy and not likely to marry. She explains that Mrs. Church found Mrs. Brought inebriated without her corsets on. Papa is surprised that Uncle Rodney would want to get married.

Aunt Louisa and Mamma were still crying when they arrived at Grandpa's house. Uncle Rodney was not present. Grandma mentions to them how the cook, Mandy, had never come in to cook breakfast. Eventually, they discover that the cabin is empty and locked from the inside.

Papa and Aunt Louisa go to entertain Grandpa. Throughout the day, Papa, and Cousin Fred search for Uncle Rodney while Aunt Louisa entertains Grandpa. Georgie knew the two would never be able to fool and find Uncle Rodney. Uncle Fred and Papa board and nail up Mandy’s house. Georgie finds Uncle Rodney in the house. Uncle Rodney asks him why it took so long for him to come. Uncle Rodney says he will give him ten quarters to help him with his business that night. Georgie agrees.

Later, a policeman approaches Georgie. Georgie tells him that his Uncle Rodney is away on a trip.

That night they begin setting off fireworks. Georgie thinks about how if he gets money from Uncle Rodney to buy grandpa a present, perhaps grandpa will give him more money for Christmas. Later that night, after dinner, Georgie brings Uncle Rodney the screwdriver to help him get out of Mandy's house. Georgie agrees to continue helping him with his work in exchange for twenty quarters. The plan involves Georgie delivering a message to Uncle Rodney's lover and soon-to-be bride, who is going to rob her husband and give Uncle Rodney his jewels.

Furthermore, Georgie is to approach the lover's house, throw gravel at a window, and give a message to Uncle Rodney's lover. As he approaches the house, he is grabbed by Uncle Rodney's lover. A man runs out and grabs them both. The man is likely the husband of Uncle Rodney's lover. He asks Georgie if he is the one. Georgie explains that he works for Uncle Rodney. Georgie is confused by the man’s presence as he knows Uncle Rodney to only conduct business with women. Still, Georgie tells the man everything that Uncle Rodney told him to say, including a message about bringing out all the jewelry. The lady is fighting against the man’s grip. The man gives Georgie a message to take to Uncle Rodney.

Georgie goes to Uncle Rodney and tells him the person wants him to go to the house and help carry out the Jewelry. Georgie then asks about his money. Uncle Rodney says that he will pay him tomorrow. Georgie says he would prefer the money tonight Uncle Rodney turned around and threatened Georgie with a stick. Georgie runs to the buggy. He waits because he wants his money from Uncle Rodney that night when he comes back. He can watch the fireworks from the Buggy. He thinks about how maybe if he tells his grandpa that he wanted to buy him a gift, his grandpa would give him more money. Suddenly there are fireworks shot at the house that Uncle Rodney is in. People began running outside to see what was going on. People carry out something wrapped in a quilt on a window blind.

Georgie does not see Uncle Rodney. People tell him to go home. They say Uncle Rodney will be okay. Georgie says he wants to wait for him there. The people tell him to get out of the area. A person carries Georgie away on his back. Georgie asks if the blind with the bundle on it belonged to Uncle Rodney. The man replies that the bundle is meat that belongs to Grandpa. Georgie calls it a gift for his grandpa. Georgie asks if it is from Uncle Rodney. The man replies that it is from all the husbands in the town.

The man and Georgie arrive at Grandpa’s house. All the lights are on. Georgie tells his father there is a gift for grandpa. Papa agrees and tells him to go with his sister Rosie to bed. Rosie takes his hand, and they leave. They go up the street and into town. Rosie explains that they are going to sleep at Mrs. Jordon’s house. Georgie hopes that his father will forget about his slipping out and that he will receive his quarters from Uncle Rodney. Georgie sees a Possum in a tree and runs to get a ladder. He hopes to give the Possum to his grandfather as a gift along with the meat. He hopes that he will then get money from both his grandpa and Uncle Rodney.