In the summer of 1938, 12-year-old Willa Romeyn attends the Decoration Day parade organized to celebrate the 150th anniversary of her hometown, Macedonia, West Virginia. As Willa tells it, Macedonia was one of four West Virginia counties to align with the Confederacy during the Civil War, and its location made it a “junction” for the two armies that changed hands more than 40 times in the course of the conflict.

Willa attends the parade with her aunt Jottie, whom she adores because she makes her feel grown up and like a privileged confidante. Jottie is particularly enthusiastic in her cheers for the Chamber of Commerce as its members pass by; one man hears her voice and eagerly turns around. Willa doesn’t recognize him, but Jottie says that his name is Sol McKubin. Another woman overhears the conversation and remarks that Jottie is lucky that Felix—her brother and Willa’s father—didn’t see her interact with Sol, a comment that further perplexes Willa. After the parade, Willa and Jottie encounter Tare Russell, who also comments on Felix’s absence, further mystifying Willa.

Most frustrating for Willa, however, is learning that her family, the Romeyns, is about to take in a boarder, a woman who has been sent by the government to learn about Macedonia.