Eleven-year-old Jerome Mason goes to live with his aunt and cousins following the death of his mom, and although Aunt Geneva tries to make him feel welcome, Jerome misses his mother and his piano which has been sold to cover expenses, and the only person who seems to understand his feelings is Mr. Willie, a man who does odd jobs to support himself while living in the carriage house of an empty, dilapidated mansion.

The radio personality tells of his struggles to fulfill his dream of learning to play the piano.