 It s summertime in Holman, Indiana, and fourteen year old Ralph Parker can t wait to get his first job. His friends Schwartz and Flick are less enthusiastic, and the job turns into a nightmare presided over by the story s author Jean Shepherd in hilariously unconvincing movie makeup. Ralph s dad hardly can wait for the family s upcoming fishing vacation in Michigan at the movie title s resort but will have to drive their old car through a sea of troubles to get there. Fuzzhead the dog runs away and joins a wealthy family, to the consternation of Mom, who patiently handles uber-whiner little-brother Randy and buys a whirligig as consolation.