The year is 1938 and the clouds of war hang over much of the world and influence the daily routines of most families. However, Raymond John Dagnall is far too vivid in his imagination and exuberant in his mischief to let a small thing like the threat of global conflict stand in the way of him having fun. He does have to endure going to the loo outside, but he makes up for it with his imaginative outlook on life. As war descends, new routines emerge to help the family cope with the fear of the impending conflict and the ultimate horror of the blitz. Through it all Ray retains his abundance of energy, his very active imagination and a mischievous outlook on life. After being bombed out he and his family are finally moved into a new house complete with an indoor loo. Life is transformed as he makes new friends, starts a new school and with a certain degree of inevitability, becomes the class clown. He soon gathers around him like minded individuals until he eventually has a gang who get up to all sorts of mischief as the war continues to rage around them. As the tide of the conflict turns, Aunt Alice arrives home with her tales of Al Capone, seven husbands, several fortunes and a charging buffalo. This is a story of the coming of age of an ordinary boy in an extraordinary time, and the quick wit, humour and imagination that allows him to thrive.