On a bus on the way to San Angelo, Texas, Zachary Calhoun sees a woman lying in the street and a man kicking her. A soldier on the bus jumps out of his seat to protect the woman, and they learn that the woman is married to the man and both of them are drunk. Zachary notices children crying in the couple’s pickup truck and comforts them, ensuring that they will not be taken to jail like they worry. The children run to join their mother, who the soldier has carried onto the bus. The man who was kicking his wife defends himself, claiming that she “needed” to be kicked, and the soldier decides to stay behind with the man until a police officer shows up so that the bus driver can take the kids home. Zachary joins the kids on the bus and sees that their mother is fast asleep. When they arrive at a dirt path leading to the kids’ home, Zachary gets off to help carry their groceries, while the mother exits the bus without much regard for her children. Zachary reflects on how his cousins will show up to pick him up at San Angelo, but he will not be there; the first day of his vacation is ruined. Even so, he is happy to help and enjoys the unexpectedness of his journey. Zachary sees that the children live in a small, rundown house with their grandparents, and their grandmother offers Zachary dinner and tells him that her son and his wife drink their money away every chance they get. Zachary finds himself wishing he could stay to protect the children but eventually says goodbye and leaves.