Based on award-winning author WILLIE MORRIS' best-selling memoir of his childhood, the story follows the life of an overprotected 8-year-old boy, Willie Morris (Muniz) during the early 1940's. An only child, shy and gawky, Willie is ignored at school and is uncomfortable with girls. He looks up to his next door neighbor Dink Jenkins (Wilson), the town's star athlete preparing to fight in the war.