1) The story is about an 8-year-old girl named Valli who saves money to take a bus trip alone into town, enjoying looking out the window at the passing scenery. 2) On her return trip, she is disturbed to see the lifeless body of a cow that had been alive and running earlier, realizing how quickly life can end. 3) Valli keeps her bus trip a secret, acting mature but also still a curious child, as shown by her aunt calling her "nose-poking".