Summary

The novel opens by setting the scene of the convenience store, where a diligent employee works at the cast register. She finds the sounds of the convenience store—the beeps of the bar code scanner, the rustle of the customers, the chine of the door—deeply comforting. She knows exactly what each customer needs based on their body language and she reacts swiftly and confidently.

Next, the novel moves back in time. Keiko Furukuru grew up in a suburban neighborhood in Japan with a normal and loving family. But she is different than other children. One day, she and her mother stumble upon a dead pet bird at the park; her mom suggests they bury the cute little bird, who she nicknames "Mr. Budgie," while Keiko suggests that they bring it home to grill (7). She cannot understand why her mother thinks this is...