In Richmond Virginia Mary Ellen and Jonesy were all still up early the next morning waiting for John Curtis to return home. "I don't know what I'm going to do with him!" Mary Ellen says, "He stays out past dark, skips school, and comes home smelling like cigarette smoke and alcohol." Just then someone opened the front door. They look over to see a teenage boy with raven hair wearing a leather jacket tip-toe in, obviously not noticing them.
"JOHN CURTIS PRESCOTT WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" Mary Ellen yelled at him. "Out" he answers. Jonesy sniffs the air. "John Curtis have you been smoking?" He asked. "NO…Fine maybe I did smoke, but I don't need the usual lecture." John Curtis said. "What happened to my precious baby boy I had?" Mary Ellen asked. "He grew up." John Curtis said before running up the stairs.
"He's been like this ever since Virginia died in that car crash they were in." Mary Ellen explained, "It's gotten worse with all of these friends he hangs out with." "Maybe we should send him to a place where none of his friends are." suggested Jonesy. "Like where?" asked Mary Ellen. "Walton's Mountain. I know Olivia will not put up with all of this, and John will put him to work in the mill." explained Jonesy.
"Good idea sweetie. I'll call Mama in a little bit to make sure its fine for him to spend the whole summer with them." said Mary Ellen. "We can get him on the fourth of July when the whole family's there." said Jonesy.
John Curtis was in his and Clay's room giving Clay a gift. "John when can I open my eyes?" Clay asked his older half-brother. "Now." John Curtis answered. The five year old opened his eyes to see a wooden airplane. "WOW! Where'd you get that?" Clay asked. "Uncle Jim-Bob gave it to me the last time I saw him when I was little and still in my airplane phase." answered John Curtis.
"Thanks John." said Clay giving his brother a big bear hug. "Your welcome Clay." John Curtis said back. Someone knocked on the door. "Come in." Clay yelled. Mary Ellen and Jonesy walked in. "Mom look what John gave me." Clay said excitedly. He held up the airplane. "Cool. Sweetie we need to talk to John Curtis. Can you go in the hallway?" asked Mary Ellen. Clay nodded. He walked into the hallway. "What's up?" John Curtis asked.
"With how you have been behaving lately your mom and I have decided that we need to send you somewhere to teach you rules." said Jonesy. "Your sending me to military school aren't you." said John Curtis. "No. We're sending you to Walton's Mountain for the summer. Your grandparents will teach you character and rules. You and I will be leaving first thing in the morning." said Mary Ellen.
"Just send me to military school instead." said John Curtis. Mary Ellen and Jonesy walked out of the bedroom. John Curtis laid back on the bed. He rolled over on his side and faced his bedside table. He picked up the last picture that was taken of him and Virginia two years ago before their car crash. He couldn't go back to Walton's Mountain. He had too many things they're he couldn't live with. He had never let no one know the sad truth about Virginia's death.