At a ranch in rural America accompanied with acres of unplanted farm land, evil is allowed to exist. A horrific scarecrow sits in a muddy field. Miles, Elsa Ray's boyfriend, always threatens to burn the scarecrow down, and that would leave Nora with no friends. Nora is a bookworm, light years ahead of her assigned class readings. Miles fashions himself a local gangster in the motorcycle group The Scorpions. Before Elsa Ray and Miles met, Elsa was dead set on going to Chicago to sing in musical theatre. Miles turned Elsa's dreams around and moved into her house with Nora. Miles began to become violent against Elsa. Elsa constantly, like most abuse victims, tries to justify his actions. Nora and others are aware that Miles is going too far, and it is only a matter of time until the abuse falls on Nora. Miles is also convinced someone is creeping around the house and hiding his wall mounted 12-gauge shotgun. Nora is convinced the scarecrow has come alive for her and is her friend. She speaks to Ceres (The Scarecrow) every afternoon about life, her books, Miles, and leaving for college.