Deza wakes on the second day of summer vacation knowing it is far too early to be up. Father is getting ready to go fishing with a friend, Mr. Steel Lung Henderson. Deza reflects that others call him “Steel Lung” because he can stay inside the hot furnaces of the steel mill (which Deza calls the “Company”) making repairs to the brick lining longer than anyone else. Deza recalls how glad she was when Father lost that job, as the heat inside the furnace aggravated his asthma so badly that he was up all night coughing. Mother comes into the kitchen and insists Father should not go to Lake Michigan to fish but only to the river as she assumed, but Father tells her they will stay close to shore. He promises perch for dinner that night. Mother tries to pack him a lunch, but Mr. Henderson arrives before she can; she sends Deza to fetch Father’s coat but the men are gone by the time Deza returns with it.

By late that afternoon, Father is not home yet, and Deza begins to worry. Mrs. Henderson comes by to tell Mother that Mr. Henderson expected to fish only until noon, and that they should go to where he usually parks to check on them.