Author Elizabeth Strout frames this first short story within the memories of Henry Kitteridge, the husband of Olive Kitteridge; most of the events of the story have already passed, as Henry is now retired. Henry, recalling fondly his many years running his small pharmacy, notes how he strove to be attentive to his customers. His helpfulness stemmed from his experience of having “witnessed twice in childhood the nervous breakdowns of a mother who had otherwise cared for him with stridency” (4).

When Henry’s somewhat poorly tempered assistant, Mrs. Granger, dies, Henry hires Denise Thibodeau. Denise, 22 years old and a recent graduate, has a husband who is also named Henry, and Henry Kitteridge quickly warms to the couple. Olive, who dismisses Denise as “mousy” (5), discourages her husband’s wish to invite the young couple to dinner, but Henry invites them anyway. At dinner, Henry and Olive’s nearly adolescent son, Christopher Kitteridge, sulks while the adults discuss how working in a pharmacy reveals the secrets of everybody in a town, and Olive is short with Henry Kitteridge when he spills the ketchup. Henry nonetheless seems pleased to spend time with the young couple, especially Denise.

Henry seems to find great joy in Denise’s presence.