At the beginning of the story Abogee becomes very agitated when Chan suggests that they leave the Buddha behind when they move. Chan does not understand why they need the Buddha, since they say grace before meals and therefore they are Christians. Chan does not understand how difficult it would be for his father to completely abandon the heritage of his religion.

When the family crosses the country in their broken-down old junker, Chan begins to wonder whether the car will make it over the "twisty cliff road that crosses the Continental Divide." As the car sputters and coughs Chan wonders whether the "tinfoil guard rail" could keep them from going over the cliff's edge. Chan worries about the weight of the Buddha as they move ahead. At one point he reaches over and touches the Buddha's nose. "If we go, you go," Chan reminds him...