The following version of this short story was used to create this study guide: Backman, Fredrik. The Answer is No. Amazon Original Stories, 2024.

The short story begins in an unnamed major city with the protagonist, Lucas. He is ruminating on how a frying pan ruined his life and recounts the story of his apartment building board coming to him for help. A frying pan was left near the building’s recycling area rather than inside and the board resolves to get to the bottom of where the frying pan came from.

Lucas prefers to spend all his time by himself and refuses to speak to his neighbors if he can avoid it. He also avoids communicating with delivery drivers who bring takeout to his apartment, finding any opportunity to keep to himself.

One night, Lucas orders a pad thai for dinner and finds his neighbor inspecting the bag. He accuses her of stealing his dinner, but he soon realizes that they have the same delivery order. He also has a conversation with the woman who lives below him who has been sharing his wifi without his knowledge.

The next day, there are more items left outside the recycling area and have formed a small pile. The building board is alarmed and appoints Lucas to lead a task force and find out who has placed items there without authorization.

Lucas is unable to avoid their questioning, and so he takes responsibility for the task force and begins getting out of his comfort zone. As he connects with his two female neighbors and learns more about why they are living in the building and what they are looking for in life, he grows in empathy and compassion. He looks at the pile of accumulated items and can see it as less a collection of junk and more as a memento to things people bought to try and make themselves happy and find meaning in life. He decides to post on a Facebook page for free items, encouraging people to come and choose one thing from the pile to take with them. The pile slowly dwindles throughout the day and overnight, and the next morning, no junk remains.