The blind man, also known as Robert, used to be the wife's employer. He had hired her to read out to him one summer in Seattle. On her last day, Robert asked her if he could touch her face. She agreed. After this moment the wife got touched, she was amazed at the sensation. She even tried to write a poem. Eventually they became good friends and had kept in contact with each other for quite some time. They sent tapes back and forth, informing each other of their personal lives and current affairs. The wife had arranged for the blind man to come spend the night over the house. The husband claims "A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to" Which shows that he doesn't really approve of his wife's invitation. After spending some time with the old man the husband realizes that Robert isn't that bad. In fact towards the end of the narration the husband understands why his wife was exaggerating over Roberts touch. .
After having a heavy meal they have a drink in the sitting room. It's quiet and the atmosphere is serene. Their voices are low and soft, and the television playing in the background. The husband got annoyed, because he wasn't taking part of the conversation. So eventually he turns on the television, and even though Robert is blind, he could tell that it was a color television. This made the husband extremely troubled for, he thought blind people couldn't smoke, let alone tell what kind of television is playing! Later on during the night, the husband decides to roll up a cigarette of cannabis. After this, the mood became even mellower. They had another drink. The wife fell asleep on the couch so the husband decides to flick through the channels and see what else is playing. Eventually he ended up on the same channel. It was playing a documentary of cathedrals. Robert was trying to understand what the television was talking about, leaning his ear towards the set. The husband felt like he had to explain to Robert what the set was showing, he offered to sit down and draw a cathedral.
