Winston Rama is a boy growing up in the 1950s in 1950's West Indies/ His mother is a superstitious woman, with salt under her bed, trips to the witch doctor and remedies for everything. She is also a devout Christian and runs her house under strict routines. His father is originally from Calcutta, and the only person on Winston's street to go to work in a white shirt and tie. Winston's sister, Margaret, is "the Indian-looking child," more pale and favored by her father. She is shown to be smart, run fast, play with marbles, and has a strong connection to Winston. It appears that Winston's father may lose his job and take to alcohol. After the introduction to family life, Basil the Dog is described as the spirit who visits people as they die. The story splits into four mini-episodes, each characterized by a visit from Basil, and charged with more details about the family. 1. Winston falls through a roof and almost dies. Margaret, the sister, is there when Winston wakes up. 2. Winston's grandmother dies, slowly, of cancer. Margaret is shown to be caregiving, to the point of rebelling against the father. 3. Winston's Auntie dies in childbirth. Basil the dog visits as she is taken to the hospital. 4. Margaret has died. Winston blames himself because he believes Basil saw him and Margaret playing paper boats in a sewage stream. After her funeral, Winstons vows to leave the island, go to university and "learn to do some serious battle." Possibly becoming a doctor.