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

The Most Important Thing is a collection of short stories written by Avi and originally published in 2016. The stories focus on the bonds between sons and fathers or paternal figures, and they depict coming-of-age experiences.

This guide refers to the 2017 Walker Books edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of bullying, physical abuse, illness, and death.

Plot Summary

In “Dream Catcher,” the first story of the collection, Paul is woken early by his distant, often surly father, Michael, who is sending him to stay with his grandfather in Colorado while Paul’s mother undergoes surgery. Paul has never met his grandfather before, and Michael offers no explanation about the estrangement when he leaves Paul at the airport without saying goodbye. On the plane, Paul worries about spending a week with a stranger. His grandfather, Road, is a Vietnam veteran with a house full of books and dream catchers. He is emotionally distant, quick to anger, and unsettles Paul with his gun and his tendency to treat Paul as a stand-in for Michael. Despite Paul’s reluctance, Road takes him camping in the mountains. During a thunderstorm, Road finally opens up about his traumatic experiences during the war and his failures as a father. Paul begins to empathize with both his father and grandfather. Their relationship improves, and by the end of the visit, Paul asks if he can visit again. Road, smiling for the first time, says he loves Paul and invites him to bring Michael next time. He says Paul has become his “dream catcher” as their connection helps quell Road’s nightmares.

“Kitchen Table” follows Billy Kinley, who lives with his mother in a mobile home. His father, a former stock car racer, left when Billy was young, but Billy still hopes he’ll return or at least notice him someday. His mother is saving for a house, and they dream about the kitchen table they’ll have: She wants a small nook, while Billy hopes for a larger table that can expand to seat more people. When a Memorial Day bike race is announced, Billy hopes to win and gain his father’s attention. For his 12th birthday, his mother gives him a secondhand red bike, which he treasures and plans to ride in the race. However, it is stolen, and Billy visits the police station daily, hoping to get it back. Eventually, Billy spots an older boy riding his bike and chases him, but the boy denies having stolen it and escapes. On race day, Billy and his mother see the boy win a race on the stolen bike. Billy claims the winning bike was his, but again, the boy gets away. Though the police offer Billy the trophy, he refuses it. That night, he admits he wanted his father to see him in the paper. Moved by his disappointment, his mother agrees that she’d like a bigger table after all.

In “Beat Up,” Charlie is invited to a church dance by a girl he likes, but he hears that the dances attract gang activity. Worried, Charlie turns to his father, who is a lawyer, former boxer, and someone Charlie both admires and fears. Though Charlie secretly dreads fighting, his father encourages him not to avoid risks and to stand up for himself. Taking his father’s advice, Charlie decides to go to the dance. The dance goes well, but on his way home, Charlie is ambushed by a gang of 12 boys. Knocked down, he pretends to be unconscious until they leave. At home, his father reacts with shame rather than concern, insisting that Charlie take boxing lessons so he is equipped to fight back. At a community meeting to discuss the incident, his father exaggerates Charlie’s bravery, claiming he fought off 20 boys, but Charlie corrects him publicly, admitting he didn’t fight back at all. He also calls his father a coward for caring more about reputation than his son, leaving his father speechless.

In “The Amalfi Duo,” Marco’s grandfather, Gramps, picks him up from school daily, and they often play a quizzing game together where Gramps shows off his knowledge. When Marco’s friend, Nicky, mentions that his mother teaches recorder, Gramps decides he and Marco should learn together. Marco expresses an interest in learning to play the drums instead, but Gramps insists on the recorder, and they sign up together. Their teacher, Mrs. Pelescue, is kind and encouraging. Marco shows natural talent, while Gramps struggles despite hours of practice. At a recital, Marco plays beautifully and impresses everyone while Gramps is nervous and struggles through his piece. Afterward, he admits he didn’t play well and tells Marco he can move on to drums, but Marco chooses to stick with the recorder.

“Going Home” follows Damon, who resents living with his mother after his parents’ divorce. He misses his old home and especially his father, whom he only sees one weekend a month. When he demands more time with his dad, his mother reveals the choice was his father’s. Determined to move in with his father, Damon tells his mother he hates living with her, though she remains patient and loving. On a visit to his father’s house, Damon is unsettled by changes in the yard and kitchen. Fearing his father has moved or died, he instead finds him asleep in bed with a woman Damon doesn’t know. The woman, Ami, is surprised to learn Damon exists, and she awkwardly suggests they become friends, realizing she is now his stepmother. Damon’s father casually admits that he forgot Damon was visiting and then hurriedly announces that he and Ami are expecting a baby. Angry and hurt, Damon smashes a glass, writes a note saying he’s going home, and leaves his father’s house behind.

In “Departed,” Luke shared a close bond with his father and treasures their frequent camping trips at their lakeside cabin. One day, Luke returns home expecting to leave for the cabin but instead learns his father has died in a car accident. Stunned, he struggles to process the loss. In the days that follow, Luke begins sensing his father’s presence in fleeting visions. When his mother gives him the urn and asks him to decide what to do with it,  Luke feels compelled to take it to the lake his father loved. His uncle drives him there, and Luke insists on being alone at the lake. As snow falls, he releases his father’s ashes into the water. Watching them float away, he senses his father leaving with them. After that moment, Luke’s visions stop, and he believes his father has finally departed.

In “Tighty-Whities or Boxers?”, the final story in the collection, Ryan lost his father to cancer three years prior. His mother, Halley, tells him that she is now engaged to a man named Ian. Ryan takes the news well, and he insists Ian should be more than a stepfather—he must be a true father to Ryan. He treats the role like a job that must be earned and creates a job application for it. Ian formally applies for the job with references from his nephew and best friend, which speak to his kindness and strengths as a potential dad. Ryan then interviews Ian at the library, asking many questions about his personality, habits, and views on fatherhood and Halley. After deciding he approves of Ian, Ryan gives his permission for the marriage to take place. At the courthouse wedding, Ryan asks the judge to make a special announcement, declaring Ian and Halley his official “Mom and Dad.”