The first-born son of a family, Martin, recounts the loss of his younger brother, Sherrel. Martin talks about how his parents photographed a picture of the two of them when they were younger. Martin admits to the fact that he was very mean to his younger brother and many of the townspeople attributed this to their age difference--9 & 5. Martin talks about how many years ago, he used to tease Sherrel for being younger and not understanding the world around him. Despite the teasing, Sherrel never cried or was upset over it. Martin describes the hills of sand near his home and how he and his friends would play in them. One day, it rained so hard that the sand created large ditches and holes. Martin shouted at his brother and told Sherrel that he was too young to play with him. As Martin and his friends were playing and discovering that the sand made the skin on their hands peel, Sherrel follows them into the hole. Martin finds Sherrel's disobedience to his previous warning frustrating. As a result, Martin shouts at Sherrel until his younger brother slowly climbs out of the ditch and goes home. A day later, Sherrel becomes very sick and begins to worry his parents. The doctor investigates the two boys and Martin explains that he has felt fine. Only a few hours later, the doctor hangs a flag on Martin's family's door that indicates the presence of Scarlet Fever. According to the doctor, Martin had Scarlet Fever earlier and did not know it but that Sherrel's disease was worse. Four doctors came the next day to talk about the spread of the disease. When the doctors left, Martin found his parents crying in Sherrel's room. Martin's mother asks Martin if he's afraid for his brother's health and Martin explains that he is. Unsure of what to do and filled with guilt that he passed a deadly disease to his brother, Martin simply kisses the cheek of Sherrel and leaves. A few days later, in an effort to fill Sherrel with joy, Martin's mother offers to give Sherrel his Christmas present early. But Sherrel does not wake up. The doctors return and explain that Sherrel has died. The family holds a funeral in the form of a horse carriage procession. At the cemetery, Martin feels guilty that he can't cry. Martin feels terrible that he gave the disease to his brother and wonders if it's because he might've slapped Sherrel while they were playing that day in the ditch. Martin in his older years talks about this part of his life with his girlfriend. He thinks of his sister, a child his parents had after the death of Sherrel, and how his mother warned him of killing his sister too. Martin believes that he killed his brother, not from the sickness, but from being mean to him. Each day, Martin thinks of his past and works on being a better person who works hard in school. He makes a goal of becoming a writer and artist some day. Martin changes his name to Mark Stowe because he feels stronger with this name. He thinks about his family and how they seem to be getting along despite the death of his brother many years ago.