The Most Important Thing: Stories about Sons, Fathers, and Grandfathers

Damon is resentful toward his mother. He lives with her after his parents divorced. Damon misses living in his big house with both his parents, and especially misses his father. He only goes to visit his father one weekend a month, and when Damon demands to know why, his mother explains that his father didn’t want any more time with him.

One day, Damon’s mother drives him over to his father’s house for the weekend. On the way, Damon tells her that he plans to move in with his father and only see her one weekend a month. He tells his mother he hates living with her and her boyfriend and would rather live with his dad. Damon’s mother refuses to argue with him, instead letting him go through his emotions and reminding him that she loves him.

Damon is usually comforted by his father’s house, because it’s always the same and he can rely on it. This time, however, he finds the door locked, the grass cut, and flowers growing in the pots. He goes in through the unlocked back door, and inside, he finds new décor and food he knows his father doesn’t usually buy. Damon starts to feel convinced that his father either moved away or died, until he goes to the bedroom and sees his father sleeping in bed with an unfamiliar woman next to him.