On an autumn weekend, Dorothy and Ted bring their young son Peter along for a trip to their lakeside cottage. It is the day before Peter’s fifth birthday, and his overprotective parents are naturally anxious as they watch their son become more independent and explorative. By the request of Peter, Ted takes him to go fishing for the first time. Peter’s quietness at the lake surprises Ted and causes an old memory to resurface. Ted recalls seeing a large heron while fishing as a boy and understands that he had undergone his own rite of passage. Peter manages to catch a fish, and they bring it home for dinner. Peter helps to clean the fish and feeds it to both of his parents. When everyone is asleep, Ted goes to check on Peter and thinks back to the lake and fish and the nature of growing up.