A dam keeper describes his life in Lake Glen, North Carolina and introduces the families who live within the town. He mentions a family who has a golden retriever who often swims in Tryon Bay, chasing ducks. The dog has become popular in the town and is even featured in postcards. The Prophet, a man named Archie Simpson who moved to the town from Jupiter, Florida after claiming God sent him a message, often brings his children to watch the dog swim.   As a dam keeper, he is responsible for maintaining the lake’s water level. He mentions that in 1961, a dam inspector told the Mayor that he saw a man-sized catfish swimming in the water. Now, the dam keeper constantly fishes at night for it. The Prophet of Jupiter makes chairs and sells them to highway gift shops while his wife creates bullwhips by braiding cowhide and attaching them to pine handles. She tells the dam keeper that she believes The Prophet’s claim that he received a direct message from God since every time they have sex, she feels that she is filled with light. The dam keeper goes on to describe his estrangement from his wife who currently lives in Monte Sano, Alabama, with her mother. Elisabeth, his wife, firmly declines to maintain communication with him saying that he had refused to talk to her for years and she sees no reason to talk now. In between describing Lake Glen’s history, he continues to reminisce about his wife. He explains that Elisabeth taught the church preschool class on every other Sunday and one year, while taking the class on an Easter egg hunt, she screamed at the dam keeper and asked him why he wouldn't talk to her. Later, he mentions that Elisabeth is now pregnant with the new police chief’s child. In the past, Elisabeth and the dam keeper tried multiple times to conceive a child, however, they were unable. During an appointment with a fertility specialist, Dr. Suzanne Childress told the dam keeper that he has lethargic sperm. Elizabeth accuses the dam keeper of previously believing that it was her fault they could not have children—which he admits is true. In the winter, the lake freezes, trapping a duck in the ice. When Shithead goes to chase after the duck, he breaks through a soft spot in the ice and is unable to get back to the surface. The entire town watches Shithead, yelling for him to get out. Notably, no one moves to physically help the dog except for the Prophet of Jupiter who runs after the dog. The Prophet pulls the dog out of the water but the ice beneath him breaks and he falls into the water. His five sons rush to try to help him, their arms extended toward the water while their mother is held back from jumping off the bridge after her husband. By the time the town pulls the Prophet up with ropes, he is dead. Elisabeth’s water breaks the night of the Prohet’s death and the new police chief leaves for Monte Sano. The dam keeper reminisces about the town’s past and the people that were once alive in it.