Grandpa explains that death happens to everyone, but that life must go on as usual.

Grandpa explains that death happens to everyone, but that life must go on as normal in order to reassure his wife Aggie and his grandson John. Two weeks before the novel begins, Grandpa is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Aggie and John are stunned and deeply saddened by this, but Grandpa is unconcerned.

Grandpa, who is a veteran and has been through World War II, accepts that death is a part of life. It comes for everyone, sooner or later. He knows he is dying of cancer, and nothing will change that fact. As such, he wants to go on living as normally, but John and Aggie cannot get back to normal.

In a burst of anger, Grandpa tells Aggie and John they must stop crying over what cannot be changed. Grandpa apologizes...