Shotgun Cheatham’s Last Night Above the Ground portrays the first summer of Joey and Mary Alice at their Grandma’s house. The kids from Chicago, the city that was terrorized by gangsters, were destined to see the first dead body at their Grandma’s yard. Exaggeratedly unsociable, with a wicked sense of humor and a grumpy demeanor, Grandma finds out that a reporter from the city came to their town in order to write an article dedicated to Shotgun Cheatham’s death. In spite of the fact that the man used to be a criminal, the woman does her best to make the reporter believe that the old man was a great person, a war hero, actually. She convinces others to bring a coffin to her house. Even her worst enemy, Effie Wilcox, as well as the reporter, come to have a look at the dead gangster. When Mrs. Wilcox comes near it, it seems to her that the man starts stirring. Frightened out of their wits, both the reporter and Grandma’s enemy run as fast as they can when they see the old woman with a shotgun in her hands and then hear a shot. The bewildered kids find out that it is a cat’s fault that the coffin moved.
The House in the Milk depicts another adventure of Joey, Mary Alice and their extremely impressive Grandma. One day their peaceful existence is disturbed. Grandma’s mailbox is blown up and the kids learn that it is rather dangerous to mess up with their Grandma. Later on, Effie Wilcox, although reluctantly, admits that her privy is blown up too. Grandma copes up with a plan. She tells a mill man, a lad, who has rather rowdy brothers, that she is going to leave the house for several days, thus the milk is not needed. She holds her shotgun while explaining the whole situation. Just like she expects, the lad and his brothers come at night to steal her shotgun. They are unpleasantly surprised to find a house not empty at all. Joey brings the lads’ parents who take them home not without a bargain with Grandma.
A One-Woman Crime Wave features Grandma as an illegal fisher who is bold enough to use a sheriff’s boat.
The Day of Judgement revolves around a pie baking contest. The whole town knows that Mrs. Dowdel’s gooseberry’s pie is a masterpiece. However, her rival is as skilled as her. It takes them a lot of efforts to make a pie to be worth the first prize, but Pannypacker’s still looks as good as theirs. Grandma switches card with their names, so that her opponent could win, but finds a way to gladden Joey with an airplane ride.
The Phantom Brakeman is the story that proves Mary Alice to be her Grandma’s true granddaughter. She helps two lovebirds, an enamored couple whose parents on both sides are rather opposed to their marriage, to run away together.
Things with Wings depicts Joey’s first attempt at driving a car and Grandma’s success in forcing a local banker to return a house to her old rival.
Centennial Summer depicts Grandma’s contest with the banker’s wife.
The Troop Train portrays adult Joey. Being passionate about planes, he decides to join the army air corps and is soon to be sent off to Europe to take part in the war. His train passes through Grandma’s town and they both wave at each other.
