A man named George wakes up suddenly from his sleep to the sounds on the street below--trucks driving and people arguing. He thinks about how he's had some difficulty in the past six months with sleeping because of these noises and that ever since moving to the city, he and his family have been unlucky. He begins thinking about how the world is against him and that his family may run out of money soon and starve. When George looks around his room, he realizes that his wife is not in bed and thinks that she can't sleep either. George begins conjuring comebacks and insults to tell her when he finds her. He hopes to wish on her bad luck and goes to look for her, only to find her rocking their two-year-old child. His wife, Marthe, explains that she heard their son, Walter, crying and went to check on him. She also explains that Walter seems to not be feeling well. George gets mad, saying that he hates the city and is upset that they moved there. Marthe replies with the fact that it was his decision to move there. He says that there is something in the world that is causing them to be unlucky and Marthe agrees, but makes a remark that amidst the unluckiness, they've found happiness. George disagrees. Marthe attempts to soothe Walter, who begins to whimper. George thinks about how when he first met Marthe and that he loved the blue kimono that she used to wear. However, as time passed, he realizes he doesn't care much about her or the child. George offers to hold Walter as Marthe looks for some medicine to mix with their son's orange juice. Marthe is worried, saying that she read about infant paralysis and that Walter may have it because he is having trouble holding things. George doesn't seem to care much if Walter dies because he believes that they are still very unlucky. He asks Marthe to find a new outfit because her blue kimono is getting shabby. After a few minutes, they realize Walter's fever has subsided some. George tries to make Walter laugh with a piece of newspaper he folds into a mustache. Walter finds it funny. Marthe sighs, explaining that one of them will find a job soon. She goes to take her kimono off and realizes that she can fix it to make it look better. George continues to make Walter laugh.