Jake Greenspahn’s son, Harold, has died, and he does not want the small sympathy of the cop who pays the parking meter for him. In his car, he secretly breaks down in grief. Unlike his wife, he does not understand how to continue with daily life when it feels like everything has been lost. For the first time since Harold’s death, Jake returns to his job as a grocery store owner. He feels like all of his employees have been stolen from the store, and he resents them for their excuses about bad business. In his office, he finds a notepad with Harold’s scribbled writing, and must push down his overwhelming grief and return to work. Jake begins to divide people into criers and kibbitzers. Criers are those who complain, and kibbitzers are those who ignore grief and talk their way through life. He meets with some friends at a restaurant, and they chat about the different ways they have duped customers. Back in the store, Jake hears Frank, one of his workers, yell at a woman who tried to steal food. He forces her to give him money in exchange for not calling the cops. Jake reveals himself, and fires Frank, who recounts a time when Harold took money from the register. Jake criticizes Frank for calling his dead son a thief, and cries when he leaves. The store’s porter, also named Harold, arrives at the store and tells Jake about a dream he had about his son. He says that Harold’s death was a mistake, and that it was Frank who was supposed to die. He says that, in his dream, Harold told him Frank will sicken and die. Jake believes the porter is crazy and feels like everyone is kibbitzing him. In his mind, he imagines Harold’s sly face and him wink when he slipped the five dollars from the register in front of Frank. He is determined to sell the shop, and apologizes to Frank and rehires him. After work, Jake goes to the synagogue to pray for Harold. The Rabbi insists that he imagine Harold’s face while praying, but Jake cannot do it. He only recalls Harold’s face as a child, and thinks of all the malicious criers and kibbitzers. When he finally remembers Harold’s face, it is shameful image of him winking at Frank while he snuck out those five dollars.