In that tumultuous year-1968-alan wilson, recently discharged from the u.s. navy, returns to his home on the high plains of texas. during his two college and four military years away, his home town has undergone only subtle changes. how can this be when a young president and his brother have been assassinated? when thousands of his generation-including his best friend-have died in an unpopular war? when throngs of protesters have marched for an end to that war and for basic civil rights as large sections of major american cities burned to the ground? not only his best friend but also his father has died during his absence. searching for answers, he turns to his mother, a retired schoolteacher, to zack, a local farmer of his father's generation, and to melinda, who has also recently returned to find answers to her own questions.