Ralphie, a nine-year-old boy in 1940s Indiana, dreams of receiving a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas but encounters resistance at every turn when he makes his wish known.

The first 4 stories in this collection previously published in In God we trust, all others pay cash; the 5th story previously published in Wanda Hickey's night of golden memories, and other disasters.

Duel in the snow, or, Red Ryder nails the Cleveland Street Kid -- The Counterfeit Secret Circle member gets the message, or, The asp strikes again -- My old man and the lascivious special award that heralded the birth of pop art -- Grover Dill and the Tasmanian devil -- The grandstand passion play of Delbert and the Bumpus hounds.