Father has a large, old flannel robe that has been aged with wear and salt water. He wore it for several years, then put it in the attic but occasionally goes up to wear it and think. One summer, Sophia rebels by hiding in the attic and saying horrible things to the robe and by cheating while playing cards with Grandmother. Grandmother remembers being well-behaved, but she notes that she could have a rebellious phase at her age.

When Grandmother scolds Sophia for using “Jesus” in vain, Sophia yells that she doesn’t care about God’s family—“I don’t care about his old family! I hate families!” (97)—and she hides in the attic. While in the attic, Sophia sees the robe move a small bit and thinks either something is in the robe or that the robe is alive. She falls asleep with the robe, and Father brings her down to her room. The next morning, she decides no one else can know that the robe is alive.

At sundown each day, Sophia checks on the robe. Grandmother tells her to shut the trapdoor to the attic and go outside. She and Sophia are not getting along and often fight.