Slovakian school boy Jonas (11) won't take no for an answer from his widow mother to spend the Summer holiday with his cool paternal grandfather, widower Bernard. The old man isn't amused to find out being tricked, but still enjoys his company, only won't let him have the rowing boat the kid knows was around and wants to take to the river. Jonas also finds a local friend his age, Alex, to play and prank and plot to get the/a boat, until Jonas learns Berard's true trauma with it.