When a pigeon comes to Palmer's window, he secretly takes the bird in as a pet and names it Nipper. To Palmer's surprise, his parents both learn of the existence of the pigeon but respect his wishes to keep Nipper a secret. Keeping Nipper also allows Palmer to befriend Dorothy, a girl who was his childhood best friend and also opposes the pigeon shooting festival because of its cruelty toward the birds. The gang often bullies Dorothy, causing a disruption between Palmer and her before Palmer realizes how much he had hurt her. When the day of the shooting comes, Palmer is anxious because he has allowed Dorothy to release Nipper in hopes that the pigeon will avoid capture.