The narrator tells us that his grandmother lives far away from the city, in a village. She doesn't want to leave the village when her mom is still alive. The villagers call her "the great grandmother" and she's well-respected. She's also rumored to be a witch. The narrator wants to go inside to meet her, but the villagers won't let him in. He tells the villagers that he's just "catching some fresh air" out here. He asks the villagers why they don't allow him in, and they tell him that the villagers are afraid of the witch. He's uncomfortable with the villagers' behavior, so he tells them to step out to the side and be safe.