Jessee, a young girl going into middle school, lives in Northwest Oklahoma with her dad. She has two major plans for her summer. One, she wants to sleep late at home while her dad works on the Earl's farm. Two, she wants to have an archeological dig with Buford Earl, also going into middle school. Jessee's mom died, and this makes her dad a bit over-protective. He requires her to get up early and go to the farm with him. He refuses to allow her to stay home alone. Buford's dad plans on him working on the farm during the summer, not going on a dig with Jessee. Jessee and Buford are convinced that summer is for sleeping late and having fun. Now, they just have to get their parents to believe that too.