A narrator describes a woman named Gloria who works at a local grocery store. She is known in the community as Sparrow because she is slight and unassuming. Sparrow is described as a very agreeable, unopinionated person with little individuality or uniqueness. When she starts to fall in love with her colleague Randy, however, she realizes that she might need to develop a fuller sense of self in order to attract him. Sparrow attempts to form her own thoughts and opinions, and she tries to become more conventionally “girlish” through perfume and women’s magazines (134).

Randy adores his mother, who owns the store that he and Sparrow work in. Randy still lives at home, and the community suspect that his adoration for his mother is the reason he never married. Randy’s mother is described as a grumpy old woman, and she begins to bully Sparrow at work when she realizes that Sparrow has feelings for her son.

As Randy and Sparrow interact more, Randy begins to fall in love with her. Although Sparrow is still unopinionated and conforming, Randy enjoys this aspect of her personality, as he finds her agreeable and supportive. When Randy’s mother expresses her dislike of the relationship to Randy, it draws Randy and Sparrow even closer together.