Twenty years ago a friend of Neville's gave his daughter Vicki ten dollars' worth of stock — a hundred shares at ten cents; the friend has since died, the stock passed through several companies, and two weeks ago General Dynamics notified her it was being redeemed at twenty-two dollars a share.

Neville tells of his daughter Vicki and her pedigree-less dog Stanley, who was given an "all-American dog" certificate at the obedience class graduation, and of how nothing the dog does may be criticized in her presence - whatever it does is Neville's fault.

A long-time friend telephoned Neville on the day of the lecture; his wife answered, and when she said they were pleased with Vicki's report the friend replied that he wished he could say he was pleased about anything of his own — an example of a man stuck in the state of self-pity whom Neville has pulled out countless times.

Neville reports his friend's letter comparing his love for the waitress to Neville's love for his daughter Vicki, and speaks of the particular way he loves his own daughter.