In this Novelette a teen age boy (Billy) with abusive parents runs away from his tenement home in Brooklyn and hides out in a tent near the Appellation trail in Massachusetts, meets up with a tramp (Bud) and has an adventuresome summer camping out with his new friend. A detective is hired to search for him. Billy Boy's mother, an alcoholic and addict gets straightened out while he is away and gets reunited in a happy ending.