One day, a little boy in New Mexico comes home from school and finds that his great-uncle has died. The boy was not too sad, but the uncle, Anastasio, had been living with his family for a while, which meant that the boy had to share a bed with his older brother, Franque, and his younger sister, Arcelia. Franque, Arcelia, the boy, and their father go to buy a coffin for Anastasio. While their father negotiates, he gives each child a little bit of money. The boy buys some chocolate with his money, while Arcelia wants a dress that she cannot afford. She throws a tantrum but, back in the car, her brother placates her by giving him some of her chocolate. Abruptly, the family gets into a car crash, likely because Franque, the driver, had been given whiskey by his father earlier. Arcelia dies. The family makes their way back home, where they break the news to the mother. She screams and weeps, sets dinner for her children, and nurses her newborn child, all while the boy watches.