The story follows a young boy and his sister, Rain, who are forcibly taken from their Chippewa village in northern Minnesota by white men. As they cry for their mother, they are brought to a boarding school where they suffer severe abuse at the hands of the nuns, particularly Sister Catherine and Sister Mary. The children are stripped of their cultural identity through violent means: their clothes and hair are taken, and they are punished for speaking their native language.


The boy witnesses Rain endure brutal beatings but remains defiant, constantly crying out for their mother. Despite the oppressive environment, Rain's spirit and resistance shine through. However, as time passes, Rain is taken away from the boy and disappears, leaving him desperate to find her. He learns from a fellow captive, Sakima, that Rain and another sister, Ayashe, were punished for their defiance and locked away in a basement.


Years later, the boarding school is closed, and the boy, now a man, searches for answers about what happened to Rain. He discovers that after refusing to adopt a Christian name, Rain was beaten to death, her spirit ultimately passing on to the ancestors. During the demolition of the school, the remains of missing children, including Rain and Ayashe, are found wrapped in burlap, and discarded like trash.


The author reflects on the genocidal tactics used against Indigenous peoples, mourning the loss of his sister and the pain inflicted on the children. He vows to remember Rain and to honor her legacy, believing in the strength and resilience of their culture. The story concludes with a heartfelt farewell to Rain, promising that he will carry her memory until they meet again, emphasizing the enduring bond of love and the fight against the erasure of their identity.