The Aldens begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather.

"The son of a Mississippi policeman finds a boy living in hiding in the wilderness and tries to help him without giving away his secret"-- When his Mississippi policeman gives Sam a fishing boat, he uses the boat to disappear for hours at time. Exploring the swampy surroundings of his bayou home, Sam finds a boy living on his own in the wilderness. Davey gives evasive explanation as to why he's on his own, and Sam makes efforts to help him. But this...

"When Great Aunt Beauregard announces her intentions to bring budding engineer John into the family business of coffin manufacturing for the rest of his natural life--and, worse, to teach his sister Page to embalm--John decides enough is enough, and the two of them head out on the lam, maybe joining the circus"--