Reverend Andrew Mackerel finds his burgeoning romance with Molly Calico complicated by the public memorialization of his deceased wife. As a widower navigating the social expectations of his suburban congregation, Mackerel attempts to balance his private desires with the public project of constructing a shopping plaza dedicated to his late spouse. The narrative follows his efforts to maintain appearances while managing the scrutiny of his community and the logistical hurdles of his professional life. The story utilizes a third-person perspective to examine the tension between personal grief and the performative nature of public mourning. Mackerel must navigate the logical constraints of his position as a clergyman while contending with the absurdity of his own romantic predicament.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the sharp, intellectual humor that defines the prose style of this work. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to balance cynical social commentary with the genuine, albeit awkward, human condition of the protagonist. Many observers note that the pacing remains consistent, driven by the escalating absurdity of the central conflict rather than traditional action sequences. The effectiveness of the atmosphere is often attributed to the precise, biting observations regarding the social pressures of the era. Readers appreciate the way the narrative avoids sentimentality, opting instead for a clinical look at the contradictions inherent in modern life.