Vanessa, at the age of 6, learns that her 15-year-old cousin Chris will be coming to stay at the Brick House to attend high school, as there’s no high school in his northern hometown. Initially resistant due to their age difference, Vanessa is instructed by her mother, Beth, to be polite and welcoming.

Chris arrives, and despite Vanessa’s apprehensions, she finds herself wanting to defend him when her mother criticizes his appearance. He is tall, thin, and friendly, immediately warming to Vanessa and treating her as an equal, which softens her initial reluctance. However, Grandfather Connor openly complains about the inconvenience and cost of hosting Chris. Despite the tension, Chris remains unfazed, showing a calm demeanor that contrasts with Vanessa’s internal anger.

Chris becomes a caretaker for Vanessa when her parents are away, further endearing himself to her through his creativity and kindness. He crafts a miniature saddle for her birthday and shares stories of his home in Shallow Creek, sparking Vanessa’s imagination with tales of a house built from lakeside trees and dinosaur fossils.

As the Depression worsens and a drought impacts Manawaka, Vanessa becomes aware of these challenges more abstractly, likening them to a “malevolent God.