Yakov is the young orphan who lives with a man he calls Uncle Misha until he is purchased away to go to America. In truth, the man Yakov calls "uncle" is nothing more than a pimp who cares for a group of young boys but demands that they each earn their way by picking pockets, stealing and performing acts of prostitution. Yakov has only one hand, the other arm ending in a "stump." However, he is an attractive child who garners a great deal of attention from the clients who visit the house looking for sexual encounters.