An essayist, he finds peace in his mountain life. His routine is pleasantly disturbed by occasional visits from Machiko, his editor and love interest, as he struggles to let go of his late wife's ashes.

The kids are alright. And by alright, we mean they might be aliens! When he meets three of them, Wao is told that he must return to their home planet, but is worried about leaving his feuding parents behind.