The novel’s protagonist, Nate Twitchell, is a 12-year-old boy who lives in Freedom, New Hampshire, a small town not far from the Maine border. At the novel’s beginning, Nate is enjoying his summer vacation. Nate’s father, whom he calls “Pop,” runs the local newspaper, the Freedom Sentinel. To supplement income from the paper, the Twitchell family maintains a small farm, with chickens, a goat, and a vegetable garden. 

During the warmer months, the family’s neighbor, Mrs. Parsons, leaves her windows open at night. One day, she complains that the family’s rooster, Ezekiel, has been crowing too loudly. When Mrs. Parsons demands that the family surrender Ezekiel, a debate ensues. Mom and Cynthia, Nate’s sister, argue that they should get rid of Ezekiel, but Nate favors an alternative. To keep Ezekiel quiet, Nate promises to bring him down to the cellar each evening, only releasing him after sunrise. Eventually, the family agrees. For about a month, Nate makes good on his promise, though he sometimes regrets intervening on Ezekiel’s behalf. However, the plan proves successful. 

As summer rolls around, Nate notices that one of the hens looks oddly bloated. One morning, as he carries Ezekiel out to the chicken yard, Nate notices that the hen has laid a massive egg.