This story was interesting. In the beginning of the book, "A Note to Readers" explains that the Morgan family is fictional, but the events are real. In 1896 schoolchildren helped move the Stevens house to Minnehaha Park. Also, the problem of alcohol abuse was a serious problem, as it is today.

The story starts in the Fair Oaks neighborhood of Minneapolis in the spring. Heber Meeks was asking Peter Morgan how long it would be until they could go to the clubhouse. Peter was beating the last rug that he had to do. When Peter's sister, Carol, arrived, asking why he should have a day to play while she had to work, Heber looked worried. Peter asked Heber to help carry the rug back into the house. Stella heard them as they took the rug into the house. Stella's maid apron was dirty from the work she had been doing. Once the boys had rolled out the rug in the parlor, they hurried to the toolshed where they grabbed paint & brushed, then headed toward the empty lot on Shady Lane. Avery Norton, their other friend, was waiting for them at their clubhouse. There wasn't much in their clubhouse since it was only a couple weeks old. They had built it themselves from scraps of lumber they picked up, with some help from Heber's older brother, Martin. They decided to name their club The Shady Vinewood Club. Then they proceeded to paint their signs & fix the roof. As Peter painted the sign he was thinking about the blue bicycle he wanted. He decided to ask his father if he could have it for his birthday in September. When he realized that there was paint on his clothes, he was afraid his mother wouldn't allow him to get the bicycle. ( )