Twelve-year-old Phillip Callas has a problem — namely, his six-year-old brother, Dean. Dean is constantly getting himself and Phillip into trouble. Once, Dean nearly destroyed a special school project Phillip had recorded on his tape player. Then, later at baseball practice, Dean embarrasses Phillip by making a pre-supper snack out of a large bug. Phillip blows up at Dean, then sends him home, alone. Phillip half-jokingly wishes that something would happen to his little brother — until the phone rings, and his mother informs him that Dean never made it home. He's missing.

With Whit's help, Phillip searches for Dean. They find him in the bottom of a large hole at a construction site. Dean has taken a nasty fall and is unconscious. They rush him to the hospital. Phillip is upset, believing the whole thing is his fault. He hadn't really wanted anything to happen to Dean. Whit comforts Phillip and prays with him. As Phillip talks to God, Phillip realizes that Dean isn't such a bad kid after all. Fortunately, aside from having a small concussion and some bruises and scratches, Dean is all right. Phillip goes into Dean's hospital room. There, Phillip apologizes for treating Dean so badly, and says that Dean can play with anything he wants when he gets home. And, of course, the one thing Dean wants to play with is Phillip's tape player.