It's 1936, in flint, michigan. Times May be hard, and ten-year-old Bud May be a motherless boy on the run, But Bud's got a few things going for him: he has his own suitcase full of special things. He's the author of Bud ...It's 1936, in flint, michigan. Times May be hard, and ten-year-old Bud May be a motherless boy on the run, But Bud's got a few things going for him: he has his own suitcase full of special things. He's the author of Bud Caldwell's rules and things for having a funner life and making a better liar out of yourself.