Miss Briggs is the head bookkeeper for the firm Wilkins and Bryant. She takes pride in her work, feeling, “She was never a person to move about much or change jobs” (161). From a young age, Miss Briggs never went out regularly; she was raised by a single mother, and they didn’t have much. After attending business school, Miss Briggs took care of her mother, supporting them both until her mother’s death. Single and living alone since, Miss Briggs refuses to marry, thinking men will just want her for her money. Every day after work, she goes to the same place for dinner, Rose Bud Tea Shoppe, where she’s been served by the same two Black servers for years. Miss Briggs doesn’t feel lonely too often, except when she sees couples coming and going in the park near her apartment.

On her way home from a vacation, Miss Briggs happens upon a dog shop and buys a white dog named Flips. She takes Flips to the park near her apartment and enjoys seeing people smiling at her and Flips, but she never stays to socialize. Deep down, Miss Briggs distrusts people. Miss Briggs starts paying the janitor of her complex, a Swede, to deliver meat to her door to feed Flips with.