
Louisiana and her grandmother barely have enough money for food, so they frequently steal it.

She lives with her tiny derelict grandmother, and the two are always on the run for fear Louisiana will be taken to a children’s home. Louisiana tells the other girls her parents were famous trapeze artists called the Flying Elefantes. Raymie is attending her first lesson with former baton champ Ida Nee when she meets Louisiana Elephante and Beverly Tapinski. Then her father will see her picture in the paper and be so proud he’ll come home.

Raymie believes if she can learn to twirl a baton, she can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest.

Ten-year-old Raymie Clark’s father, an insurance agent, has just run off with a dental hygienist.
