The Boy Scout

Jimmie Reeder sets out on a sweltering August morning, determined to fulfill the Boy Scout principle of doing a good turn each day. After giving his sister a dime for a day at the movies, he straps a heavy knapsack and heads for the annual encampment on Hunter’s Island, his uniform a badge of pride. Along the way he exchanges witty banter with a police officer and receives admiring glances from younger boys who idolize his scout status.

The trek proves far tougher than Jimmie anticipated. The scorching pavement, the weight of his luggage, and the relentless traffic test his resolve, yet he keeps his head high, smiling at passing motorists who tease him as a “Scout.” As the miles stretch on, a sudden flash of a low‑gray racing car offers an unexpected encounter that could change the rhythm of his journey.