The narrator, Jackson, notices four “weird things about the surfboarding cat” (3). First, that it is surfboarding. Second, that it is wearing a t-shirt that reads “CATS RULE, DOGS DROOL” (3). Third, that it is holding a closed umbrella, and fourth, that no one else sees the cat. Jackson recognizes the cat and whispers his name, “Crenshaw” (4). Jackson closes his eyes and counts to ten. When he opens his eyes, Crenshaw is gone. Just as Jackson sighs with relief, Crenshaw’s umbrella lands at Jackson’s feet. He closes his eyes again, and when he opens them, the umbrella is gone. A feeling of expectation comes over Jackson, and he shivers.

Jackson asserts that he is “not an imaginary friend kind of guy” (7). He likes facts, especially surprising ones, and wants to be an animal scientist when he grows up. His friend, Marisol, shares his passion. The two have started a dog-walking service and enjoy trading facts while walking the dogs.

Jackson likes facts because they are true, while stories are lies. He notes that, though he had his “Crenshaw phase,” he has never “been much into make-believe stuff” (9). He recalls his parents taking him to the mall to see the Easter Bunny.