The narrator and her husband, Peter, watch the news on TV. Recently, astronauts have begun traveling through Earth’s atmosphere and landing in various places around the country. Though questioned by the press about space, where they came from, and life beyond Earth, no astronaut has spoken. They begin to integrate into society, most getting jobs in the communities where they land, but remain in their astronaut suits and never speak. 

The narrator tries to converse with Peter, but he’s distracted by the TV. Her life revolves around domestic chores, and his revolves around his small job at the fire station where he used to work. The couple is older, sleep in separate beds, and have no children. They live in a rural community.

One morning, the narrator returns from walking the dog to find Peter outside with an astronaut who has just touched down. They invite him inside.

Over the coming weeks, the astronaut lives with the couple. He’s incredibly helpful around the house, but never speaks. Peter and the astronaut bond by completing chores together. The narrator begins to fantasize and dream about the astronaut touching her. She mentions bringing the astronaut to a party or to meet school children since he’s been cooped up, but Peter doesn’t think the astronaut would like either of these things. He plans for he and the astronaut to go pheasant hunting, but on the morning of the pheasant hunt, the astronaut doesn’t come out of his room.

On Peter’s birthday, the astronaut and the narrator prepare a special meal. During the middle of dinner, the astronaut leaves and adjourns to the basement. The narrator tries to comfort the astronaut, but Peter explodes, telling the astronaut he’s ungrateful for all they’ve given him. Later that night, the narrator finds the astronaut watching news coverage. In the morning, the astronaut is gone.

On the news, the couple watches footage of a group of astronauts that are returning to space. They aren’t sure if their astronaut is one of them. That night, the narrator imagines the astronaut taking her up to space with him.