Summary

Palaver opens with the mother’s perspective, grounding the story in her restless preparation for a trip that feels both necessary and unbearable. Living in Houston, she receives a brief call from her adult son in Tokyo and senses something is wrong. Though he insists he is fine, she hears an undertone of despair and decides to fly to Japan despite their strained relationship. Her narration reveals a long history of disconnection between them, layered with memories of her brother Stefan, who once seemed as close as a twin until time and distance turned him into a ghost presence she still half expects to call. Her husband has been dead for years, and her older son keeps a deliberate distance, leaving her with a deep sense of isolation that intensifies the need to see her youngest child in person.

When she lands in Tokyo...