In the story "Adam," Heinz is waiting for the news of the birth of his son. Eventually, the son is born, and Heinz is delighted. His whole family died during the Holocaust and he feels that this child is a way to remember all those who died, and honour them. However, the bartender and Sousa do not seem to care much about the news. They belittle Heinz, mispronounce his name, and show indifference towards the event. This makes Heinz feel extremely alone, and emphasizes his isolation to the point that he starts to wonder whether the event is actually worth celebrating at all.