Ben Marshall, 13, faces a summer of unpalatable choices: He can shuffle between his newly divorced parents, too distracted to notice him; or he can visit his grandfather Ira, a cranky, small-town lawyer, who is a stickler for rules. When Ira's wealthy client, Mrs. O'Hearn dies, instructing him in her will to "put down" her beloved dog, Ira rebels. With Ben as his accomplice, they go on the run.