When fourth grade ends, Ricky is on his own for the summer because his parents have jobs and his sisters are, well, they're sisters so he's not interested in them. The summer begins on a high note as he begins gathering items left at people's curbsides, things like lawn mowers, baby strollers, old lamps, and appliances. His plans to build a vehicle go well, and then he starts building a robot. But his plans are interrupted as he rides around the neighborhood...