This book is a cheerful, lighthearted string of real stories about family and playmates during the 1940's as told by Marie, the youngest of three children raised in a small farming town in the upper plains of Montana. Each day a distant whistle heralds the 12 O'Clock Skiddoo, a milk train that rolls through town. Playtime adventures often halt in favor of running to watch and wave as the train rumbles by. When seen, the kids are met with a great wave from the engineer and a loud "whoooowhoooah!" from their lovable train's whistle.