"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?"

During harvest season, a rural family discovers that Willie is missing—though it takes them a surprisingly long time to notice. His father, a blunt and forgetful farmer with ten children to keep track of, recalls Willie as an odd, scrawny boy whose oversized head, awkward ways, and endless questions set him apart from the rest of the family. Even his disappearance is initially treated as an inconvenience, especially with a full plate of food waiting at supper.

But strange lights have been flashing in the nearby hills, accompanied by unsettling noises and talk of mass hallucinations. Willie may have been peculiar, but he was also unusually intelligent, asking questions far beyond the understanding of his teachers and family. As the neighbors begin looking for him, the story unfolds in a sly, affectionate voice that turns backwoods practicality and family indifference into comic science fiction. Listeners can expect a playful mystery about an unforgettable boy—and the strange forces that may have taken an interest in him.