Little Boy

In the seaside town of O'Hare, Pepper Flynt Busbee is born small for his age. His father James cradles him and immediately notices how tiny he is, forging a deep bond that defines Pepper's life. This early closeness earns Pepper the nickname 'little boy,' a label he grows to hate.

With World War II underway, Pepper's older brother is deemed ineligible for service due to flat feet, while their father steps in to join the fight. The family is devastated as Dad leaves for war, leaving Pepper yearning for his return. Pepper's world shifts from daily life to the long wait for news.

Pepper hears a line from the Bible about moving mountains through faith and resolves to gather enough faith to bring his father home. Father Oliver tells him that harboring hatred makes faith useless, and he urges Pepper to befriend Hashimoto, a Japanese man in town. Pepper hesitates at first, influenced by anti-Japanese sentiment in his community, but the idea to befriend Hashimoto plants a seed.

As Pepper spends time with Hashimoto, he begins to see beyond prejudice and discovers a real friendship. Hashimoto teaches Pepper to stand up to bullies who mock his height, helping him gain confidence. Pepper's world widens as he learns to value mercy over hate.

Father Oliver gives Pepper a list of tasks to complete, testing his resolve and teaching him discipline. Pepper accepts the challenge, using the goals to cope with his father's absence and the town's pressures. Each task becomes a step toward maturity rather than a quick fix.

An Army report confirms Pepper's father is missing in action, plunging the family into uncertainty. Pepper's mother struggles to hold the household together while dealing with fear and grief. The home front becomes as challenging as any battlefield Pepper imagines.

Pepper's brother London and Sam assault Hashimoto in town, leaving him hospitalized. London is arrested, but Hashimoto chooses not to press charges and is released, highlighting the complex, painful ironies of prejudice. Pepper witnesses the consequences of hatred threading through his community.

An Army representative delivers the devastating news that Pepper's father has been killed in the Philippines and buried elsewhere. The family grapples with a sense of finality and grief as they reflect on his sacrifice. The news sets the stage for Pepper's ongoing struggle with faith and memory.

Hashimoto attends the memorial service at O'Hare Cemetery to honor the fallen, and Pepper sits with him to share their shared losses of family. They discuss faith, memory, and the possibility of healing in the wake of tragedy. The cemetery becomes a quiet ground for unlikely friendship.

Pepper returns to his father's grave and lays the list of tasks on top of the marker, a symbolic gesture linking his quest for faith to his father's memory. The act reinforces Pepper's resolve to keep trying despite the heartbreak. The grave becomes a focal point for his private struggle and hope.

Pepper's mother takes Pepper’s concerns to the town doctor, Dr. Fox, who then tries to flirt and manipulate under the pretext of discussing Pepper's short stature. The moment exposes the vulnerability of caregivers in a time of hardship. It also adds another layer of challenge Pepper and his mother must navigate.

An Army spokesperson reveals that Pepper's father did not die after all, correcting the earlier report. The deceased soldier had stolen Pepper's father's boots with his dog tags, misdirecting the search for the truth. The revelation rekindles hope for Pepper and his mother as they prepare for a possible reunion.

The family travels to visit James in the hospital, where Pepper presents him with the boots he had bought after James went off to war. The act is a tangible symbol of support and connection between father and son. James holds the boots with emotion, suggesting the possibility of a reunion to come.

James reveals mild amnesia from a head injury, but Pepper's loving call of his longtime nickname 'partner' breaks through. James holds the boots and embraces Pepper's family in a warm reunion. They kneel around his chair for a group hug, and then drive back to O'Hare together, completing their return.