The speaker frames their memory as an autobiography for a fifth-grade assignment, looking back at a photograph from when they are four years old. They observe their family members at a lake in Michigan. The young speaker experiences feelings of restriction compared to their older sibling but cherishes the physical closeness and sensory memories associated with their grandfather.

The grandfather is an active, capable patriarch who rolls his own tobacco and rides horses. He provides a sense of security for the young speaker, who rides strapped in a basket behind him. He possesses strong, dexterous hands and carries the distinct scent of lemons.

The grandmother is an active, caretaking figure during the family outing at the lake in Michigan. She works to ensure the family is comfortable rather than sitting perfectly still for the photograph. The sunlight filters through the trees to create bright, paw-like patterns on her dress.

The older brother is a young boy dressed in a sailor suit with a raccoon-tail hat. He possesses a level of independence that makes the speaker jealous, having recently ridden his first horse completely alone. Despite this maturity, he lacks the situational awareness to avoid hazardous plants at the lake.