Fifth-grader Cally, the book’s protagonist and narrator, notes that it’s Dad’s birthday, which also happens to be the one-year anniversary of Mom’s death: “I think it’s called a tragedy or a catastrophe or some other big word that means more than just ‘bad luck’ when two things like that happen on the same day” (3). Dad doesn’t want to celebrate with cake or presents, but Cally writes him a card, sliding it under his bedroom door alongside a few other cards from friends and family members. They wait for the rest of the family to arrive at the house; they’ll be visiting Mom’s grave today.

Cally’s grandparents pick them up and drive them to the cemetery where Mom is buried. The family doesn’t say anything since “Dad says it’s too hard to talk about her” (5). As they stand in a circle around Mom’s grave, Cally notices something: She sees Mom in her red raincoat. She realizes that one shouldn’t be able to see dead people, but she does, and she isn’t afraid. She asks her grandma and Auntie Sue if they can see her, but they can’t, and they chalk Cally’s comment up to a symptom of grief.