Isham’s is a three story house in a city where men gather and speak about curious and philosophical things. Isham, the owner, is an old serious man who seems to have experienced all of the world already. The oldest patron of the house, Twinkle Sampson, is a very childlike man who is fascinated with the moon and other astronomical bodies. Isham discusses the link between capitalism and Christianity and believes that true Christians are also capitalists. A few of the men gather and begin to talk about Mars and the possibility of aliens who would be exactly like humans living on the distant planet. While they are discussing, one quiet man named Norvel asks what sounds could humans make that prove they are distinctly human. Another man named Savelle offers laughter, but the other men disprove it. They begin to think out loud and realize that no sound is distinctly human and rather just mimicry of the sounds of nature. They settle on the conclusion that man has created nothing and instead only imitates all things. Eventually a man who is present in the conversation named Philbin goes away from the men and their discussion as he seems to disagree with this statement. He does not return to Isham's for a long period of time. They know that he was in the war and thus had a troubled mind. One night, five years later, Philbin returns to the men and sits quietly in his seat until he approaches them and begins a conversation by telling them that his son has died in war. He says that his son sacrificed himself and that the paper only gave him six inches in the most recent issue to talk about it, while he got a whole column devoted to the publication of his newest book. He asks the men to explain this phenomenon. He also asks, who his son was imitating when he returned for the men he sacrificed his life for. He believes that is what makes his son a man.