Sixth graders Anika Veerkar, Benicio Benny Flores, and Libby Abrams have gotten used to being kicked out of their homes due to their endless questions. So when Anika’s mother sends them to the grocery store on an errand, they suspect their questions were the culprit once again. But when they see who is behind the checkout counter, all of their trouble-making questions condense into one: Why does someone who could be retired choose to still work? Between popsicle breaks and jumps in the pool, this simple question leads the friends all around their community as they explore the facts and personal stories of veterans.