 Henry is 12 or 13, spending the summer with his grandparents at their house on Cape Cod. There s nothing much to do. Henry is convinced he needs to be prepared in case of tornadoes. His grandmother thinks differently and suggests that Henry call "that Pratchett boy" and make a friend. Some stagnant activities with the Pratchett lad follow - including setting a small fire with gasoline and peeping through the window of the cute girl down the street. Will dreams of meeting the girl and of being prepared for a tornado bring the summer to an heroic climax?