Al Roosten is attending an anti-drug event where local business “celebrities” are being auctioned off. Roosten sees Donfrey, a realtor, standing nearby at the event. Donfrey is attractive, wealthy, and married with beautiful children. Roosten thinks he is not that bright. Roosten alternates between thinking negative and positive things about Donfrey.

Roosten thinks of a time in high school when he thought he may have been gay.

When it is Donfrey’s turn to walk down the runway at the event, everyone cheers for him. Roosten doubts anyone will do this for him. Roosten walks down the runway. No one cheers.

Roosten feels a sort of affection for Donfrey. Once, the entire Donfrey family came into Roosten’s shop.

Donfrey tries to say something to Roosten. Roosten cannot hear over the music. Donfrey yells to Roosten and tells him to not worry about what happened. He also calls Roosten Ed. Al doesn’t understand what Donfrey means by saying this. He did not feel like he had embarrassed himself. Roosten becomes angry at Donfrey.

He remembers that the time the Donfreys came into his store, they immediately left as if they were too good for it.

Roosten has no family or spouse. He is an uncle to his sister, Mag’s, sons. Mag’s husband left her, and she is working three jobs while attending community college to become a nurse. Roosten thinks of how Donfrey must make fun of her. After the auction, Roosten sneaks out. In the changing area, Roosten finds Donfrey’s clothes and wallet. He kicks Donfrey’s wallet, and it slides under a stack of risers. Roosten does not know why he feels so angry at Donfrey. He contemplates his actions. Donfrey bursts into the room on his phone. He is talking about his daughter who has a bent-in-foot. He needs to hurry up and go pick her up. Roosten leaves. As he is driving, he feels remorseful about causing Donfrey to lose his keys—especially at the cost of Donfrey’s daughter missing her appointment. He imagines he is talking to his mother, who was always honest with him. She, however, also made him feel special. He knew his mom was probably upset about this in Heaven. He thinks about what he should do. He imagines going back and saving the day to be invited to Donfrey’s for dinner at his mansion. He realizes that none of that would happen because everyone always sees through him.

Roosten thinks of his mom again. He imagines that his mom reminds him that other people, like Donfrey, make mistakes and are forgiven. Thus, Roosten should have more compassion for himself. His mom tells him to let it go and to enjoy the present moment. Roosten drives through town, admiring the scenery, on the way to his collectibles shop. There are lots of homeless people next to his shop. He is angry at them because he thinks they cause him to lose a lot of business. A homeless man smiles at Roosten, and Roosten smiles back.