Summary

George Hodgman awakens in the middle of the night and realizes that he is not in his New York City apartment, but in his mother's home in Paris, Missouri. George believes that he is there for a short time only to care for his 90-year-old mother, Betty, and get her admitted to an assisted living facility. Betty's sometimes caretaker, Carol, is recovering from surgery and George has volunteered to watch over his mother. George has been sleeping in the guest room of the house which is very cluttered with old pictures, Christmas wrapping and other household items. He feels ill at ease but knows that his will be a short stay. George has been awakened by the sound of his mother moving about in the kitchen which is what she does when she can't sleep. Betty is suspicious of everything George does. She listens...