What Do Fish Have to Do With Anything?

Sixth-grader Maria O’Sullivan answers her personal phone at 4 pm, but nobody says anything on the other end. Another day, Maria invites her friend Sophie over to her house. Once again, her phone rings at 4 pm, but nobody says anything. Sophie mentions that she is not supposed to talk about Maria’s brother, Brian, because he is “weird.” Hearing this, Maria decides not to invite Sophie over again.

Maria’s mom asks how the day went with Sophie, and Maria mentions the exchange about Brian. Maria’s mother thinks that the family should move. When Maria asks why no one will talk about Brian, her mother merely kisses her goodnight. Maria remembers how Brian used to fight with her parents. Then, one day when he was 16, he left home and never came back. These days, Maria is beginning to forget what Brian looks like. She digs up photos of him and remembers his dragon tattoo. Although she really wants to talk to someone about Brian, her parents refuse to talk about him, and her friends at school avoid the subject, too.

The phone rings again at 4 pm, and Maria suddenly recognizes the pattern. The caller hangs up, and she wonders if it is Brian.