Jimmy Baxter is a thirteen year old boy who is smitten with a new girl in the neighborhood, who lives across the street. And fourteen year old Jeanette Safford would love to get to know Jimmy better.Trouble is, Jeanette has a bad heart and this leads both of their mothers to conspire to prevent their getting together. Jeanette's mother is afraid the rambunctious Jimmy, who is always doing active, exciting things, will have a bad influence on her daughter, who is not supposed to exert herself or get excited. Mrs. Baxxter, on the other hand, wants Jimmy to leave Jeanette alone because, as she tells him, the girl might die at any time and he would be traumatized if she were to become his girl friend. The two teens, however, finagle ways to get together. And soon, like the young and emerging L.A. they are a part of, which blossoms and grows under the threat of World War II at its doorstep, the mutual attraction of the two young people soon blossoms into a full-fledged love affair under the stress of the threats they face.