Nothing's been quite right for thirteen-year old Buddy Barnes (not his real name) since his father died. He's getting shipped off to military school in the fall. He and his little brother are getting deposited for the summer at their grandmother's house while their mother takes a trip to the coast with another of her new gentleman "friends." Finally, he doesn't like his real name. However, in the quiet midwestern grandeur of his grandmother's old Victorian mansion, Buddy experiences the most unforgettable summer of his life. Enter stage left Mumfree Askwith, a glamorous theater actor who is a distant uncle or something sojourning with grandmother between tours in glittering capitals. Through their friendship, Buddy discovers art, self-expression, and pride in his family and in his name. However, Mumfree also harbors a secret and Buddy learns that sometimes names are deceiving and histories are also stories.