Sedaris describes an experience in which his father promised to buy the family a beach house, but quickly broke his commitment. The broken promise led to problems in his current and future family life. The story begins in a dry cleaners, where David and his mother stand behind a woman who is talking about "one of her houses" (Sedaris 1) while touring the garden. The Sedaris family dreamed of owning more than one house like this woman. So when Sedaris' father suggests "cutting out the middlemen and buying a place" (Sedaris 3) in their dream vacation spot, Emerald Island, the family became very enthusiastic. Their enthusiasm overlooks the fact that his father is known for making promises he can never keep. Unaware of this trait in their father, Sedaris' family manages to get so excited about the potential beach house that they begin suggesting names, such as The Nut Hut, The Tar Heel, and The Shell Station. Sedaris suggests the name Ship Shape, because the house is shaped like a