The protagonist and her mother visit the funeral home in complete silence, dreading the process ahead.
At the funeral directors, a woman named Ros, who likes pink and has a soothing yet slow manner, assists them in filling out forms for the funeral arrangements.
When asked to share details about her deceased father to help the funeral home staff know him better, the protagonist struggles to remember specifics about his hobbies and interests.
The protagonist resents having to discuss personal aspects of her father’s life and dislikes the prolonged interaction with Ros.
The mother interjects, sharing that her father enjoyed making traditional pepper soup and had been a librarian who loved to read.
This revelation is new to the protagonist and causes her to reflect on her father’s background and her own love for reading.
Conversation shifts to funeral details like flowers and the protagonist becomes impatient with the minutiae.
The mother requests that clippings of the father's nails be taken to scatter in Ghana as part of a tradition, which the protagonist wasn't previously aware of.
Ros offers a keepsake of the father's fingerprint, which the protagonist gratefully accepts.
Personal and financial details are required on forms to complete the process, which the protagonist finds intrusive and unnecessarily slow.
After some time, Ros confirms that the earliest date for the funeral is ten days away, adding to the protagonist’s frustration.
Final discussions about the clothing and items to put in the casket leave the protagonist on edge, feeling overwhelmed by the formalities and her mother’s superstitious concerns.
The protagonist's mother decides to consult a friend about the funeral clothing and plans to return the next day without her daughter.
The protagonist feels relieved to leave the funeral home and finds herself observing people on the train home, questioning her beliefs and those of others.