Albert Fleming, a seventy-eight year old father of five, calls his son, William, to tell him that Albert’s beloved dog, Night Train, has died. Albert’s wife, Emily, is on the last day of a visit to one of her nieces. Albert, saddened and panicked by Night Train’s death, decides he should tell someone. He chooses William, Night Train’s original owner. William and Albert have never had a good relationship, and as adults have never done anything to improve it.
The early morning call surprises William. Albert cannot explain why he has called and William, civil at first but soon exasperated, becomes increasingly upset and finally demands to talk to his mother. After more fumbling, Albert is able to say only that there has been a death and he does not know what to do about “the goddamn burial.”
William decides he must be his father’s champion. He asks for no additional information and Albert, surprised by his son’s sudden helpfulness, offers no further details. William insists that his father allow him to tell his brothers and sisters. He calls his siblings, explaining that their mother has died and their father is in terrible condition. He flies to his parents home, arriving before all the others, determined to be a tower of strength for the entire family. The other four children, two sisters and two brothers, arrive later. One sister, Marcia, has fought life-long with William and dreads their time together. Albert is napping when William and the others arrive. After a short time, the children wake their father, and have begun to console him when their mother returns from her trip.
The children and their mother are astonished at each other’s presence. Their mother is angry when she learns that she has been reported dead, and that no one can explain how the report began or was circulated. William and Albert disagree over the culpability for the confusion, and Albert moves from happiness at the attention his dog is receiving to despair over the arguing that he comes to believe is his fault. Emily does her best to straighten things out, and formulates a tentative peace before the family agrees to retire for the night and finish the resolution in the morning.
The story ends with attempts at reconciliation between Marcia and William, and between William and his father. Albert is unsure about life without Night Train, but decides that he will devote the day to making the children feel better, and suggesting to Emily that they get another dog.
