An older man named Galbraithe gets off of the train at Grand Central Station. He admires the way the brakeman pronounces the station; he pronounces it the same way. As he walks through the station, Galbraithe enjoys the familiarity of being back in his hometown and reflects on the fact that it hasn't changed much since he left to go to Kansas. Galbraithe thinks about how the people around him are very similar to the ones he used to see. As Galbraithe walks along 42nd street, he thinks about how significant NYC has been in his life and how nothing has changed since he left. He soon finds his way into his old office building and checks the time. It is 9:00am, and Galbraithe goes to search for his old work friend, Hartson, who is the city editor. The workers in the building stop him and explain that they do not know the people for whom Galbraithe is looking. Galbraithe, confused, begins to list more names of people he wants to talk with, but none of the workers know who he is talking about. Galbraithe explains that he worked there five years ago, but none of the workers know who he is, either. A man named Green approaches him and applauds Galbraithe for his loyalty to the company. Green explains that a man named Haydon would have known who Hartson was, but Haydon died last spring. Green listens to Galbraithe talk about the old stories he wrote for the company and then offers to buy him a drink, to which Galbraithe declines. Galbraithe explains that he must return home to Kansas and departs. As Galbraithe leaves, he thinks about all of his old friends who used to work there and hails the taxi to return to Grand Central Station.