- A father, nearing the end of his life, writes to his young son.
- The father recounts the day's events.
- There is a debate about whether the father is really that old.
- The father intends for his son to read the letter when he becomes an adult.
- The father wonders whether he'll miss his son once he's dead. His heart is failing him. He has angina pectoris.
- The father is a preacher. He's keeping his condition secret while he can.
- The father's grandfathers were preachers as well.
- The father says his religious vocation has helped him to concentrate.
- The son is almost late for school because he didn't do his homework the day before.
- The boy shares his mother's seriousness and way of looking at people.