When Red Thunder, a souped-up motorcycle belonging to Cora Burton, rips through Halifax County, North Carolina, the Women Folks and the Men Folks step into the road and stand in its dust. They wonder, "Is Cora back?" They wonder, "Does Charlie know?" When there is nothing to do but swat flies and sip sweet tea, the saga of Cora and Charlie fuels many a late night debate as the town argues the value of "make-do" versus "find something new."