Samson grew up in Kingston, Jamaica with his grandmother because his mother was in New York working to bring him over as well. Moving to America was a strange experience for him, particularly the food, which took some getting used to. Samson goes to school with a letter from his mother in his pocket, watching the other people and families on the bus.
Flashing back to his childhood, Samson remembers his friendship with a very short boy at school, who makes him realize that he has a responsibility to help his grandmother when he calls her "old." And so Samson goes to help his grandmother down by Mermaid River where she sells food at a stand with two of her friends. She seems suspicious of what his intentions are, but is also happy to see him. Samson cares about the women in his family, despite being uncomfortable talking to them.
Samson has a comfortable life in Brooklyn, where he does well in school, and gets along with his stepfather despite his underlying feeling that the man wishes he was more athletic and less studious. Showing the letter to his teachers, Samson thinks about the stories his grandmother had told him, and the guilt he felt that quickly faded after he stopped helping her with her work in order to play cricket with his friends at school. He and his family land in Jamaica, and he and his mother look around wide-eyed at their home.
On the way to the funeral, Samson reflects on his grandmother's stories and how they embarrassed him, but how she was speaking of their bond with pride.