Short Fiction · Chapter
IX: The Bureau of Manhattan explained
As the family passes Spuyten Duyvil and enters the Bureau of Manhattan, the mother asks about making plans.
What happens
As the family passes Spuyten Duyvil and enters the Bureau of Manhattan, the mother asks about making plans. The father says his plans are made and tells her he will drop her at the 125th Street station, where she will wait two and a half hours for the rest of the family. He will drive to Greenwich with Bill to check on the house. The mother sarcastically asks for a quart of milk for David, and the father asks what kind, leading to her shouting 'sour milk' in a bad temper. The chapter ends with her left to cool off at the station.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage and Gender Roles
The exchange between the mother and father highlights traditional gender roles and marital tension, as the father makes plans without consulting the mother and leaves her to wait.
Characters to notice
- Kate Hayes
The mother, who asks about plans and is left waiting at the 125th Street station, ending in a bad temper.
- Tom Richards
The father, who has his plans ready and will drive to Greenwich with Bill to check the house.
Key passages
“Isn't it about time said my mother as we past Spuyten Duyvil and entered the Bureau of Manhattan that we made our plans.”
My mother suggested it was time to make plans as we passed Spuyten Duyvil and entered the Bureau of Manhattan.
The mother initiates the planning discussion.
“Well then heres the dope uttered my father in a vage tone I am going to drop you at the 125 st station where you will only half to wait 2 hours and a ½ for the rest of the family as the train from the west is do at 350 at 125 st in the meen wile I will drive out to Grenitch with Bill and see if the house is ready and etc and if the other peaples train is on time you can catch the 4 4 and I an Bill will meet you at the Grenitch station.”
My father said he would drop her at the 125th Street station, where she would wait two and a half hours for the rest of the family, while he drove to Greenwich with Bill to check the house, and they would meet her at the Greenwich station if the train was on time.
The father lays out his plan, leaving the mother to wait.
“If you have time get a qt of milk for David said my mother with a pail look. What kind of milk arsked my dad. Oh sour milk my mother screened.”
My mother asked him to get a quart of milk for David, and when he asked what kind, she shouted 'sour milk' in frustration.
The mother's sarcastic response shows her irritation.