A young man goes off to war in Korea. Upon his return he marries his long time sweetheart, buys a basic saltbox home in a new development and starts a family. Being a free spirit he finds it difficult to fit into the established employment order so he becomes somewhat of an entrepreneur. With the profits from bootlegging Mississippi "Moon" Shine, trafficking in stolen goods and hauling laborers (cotton pickers/choppers) year round he is able to expand on his home and provide a pretty good lifestyle for his wife and five kids.

Two boys, three girls, beautiful wife, large home, new cars, nice clothes, educated children, the whole nine yards. It is the realization of the American Dream of the day. The family motto is "if you don't hear from them, they must be okay." Through all of life's comings and goings, the family home always stood. It was the place to return to watch Saturday morning wrestling, play with family pets that came with the house, eat good food, tell stories, glorify one's own family, celebrate holidays and major events, drop off the grand babies or even live in again if and when hard times fell on family members. It was a place of love, trust, comfort, kindness and warmth. Everyone was glad to be there, and everyone was welcome. With an occasional face-lift it was as instep with the times as any home on the block. It was that warm place in your heart called "home." It was "Paradise."

After the passing of time and parents, the inevitable happened. Having left no written will the home that the parents had worked so hard for now stood idle and empty, a victim of family squabbles. Everyone wanted the home but no one wanted to be responsible for it. Eventually the roof leaked, the paint peeled, the grass grew, the birds settled in and the taxes fell behind. Within three years the family home that had once been the warm, inviting source and center of all the family activities was now but a shell of itself. The realities of life had now caught up with it and its very existence was numbered in days.

There are many conclusions that could very easily apply to this story.
There are many morals that could very easily apply to this story.
Once a selfish dog guarded a pile of hay from a flock of sheep.
When the sheep tried to eat, the selfish dog would drive them away.
The ever wary selfish dog refused to go and eat himself.
Eventually the sheep starved to death.
Eventually the dog starved to death.
Eventually Paradise was Lost.