Kill Day on the Government Wharf by Audrey Thomas
"Kill Day on the Government Wharf" is a poignant narrative by Audrey Thomas that explores themes of identity, motherhood, and the contrast between urban and rural life. Set during a late spring vacation on a rustic island, the story centers on a young pregnant wife, her husband Tom, and their son Robert as they navigate their differing views on country living. The wife, coming from a city background, increasingly finds herself drawn to the simplicity and rawness of nature, contemplating the challenges and joys of raising her child in such an environment.
In contrast, Tom, a native of the countryside, remains attached to the conveniences of urban life. The story vividly depicts a day at the government wharf where she observes local fishermen at work, highlighting the intensity and skill involved in their trade. This encounter evokes a mixture of awe and disorientation in her, prompting reflection on her own growing independence and competencies learned in the rural setting. A surprising visit from a young fisherman further deepens her connection to the island's way of life, culminating in an intimate moment with her husband that underscores her evolving sense of self.
The narrative encapsulates a journey of self-discovery against the backdrop of a changing environment, inviting readers to consider the complexities of belonging and the allure of a more primal existence.
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Kill Day on the Government Wharf by Audrey Thomas
First published: 1981
Type of plot: Psychological, domestic realism
Time of work: The 1980's
Locale: The coast of Canada
Principal Characters:
The wife , pregnant for the second timeTom , her husbandRobert , their son
The Story
"Kill Day on the Government Wharf" unfolds from the point of view of a young wife expecting her second child. She, her husband, and their young son are enjoying a vacation at their recently purchased cabin on an island. The cabin is rustic, although it does have basic plumbing and electricity. The year-round residents of the island are predominantly aboriginal Indians who fish for a living.
The story covers events on a late spring day on the island before the summer residents and tourists have arrived. The wife, her husband, Tom, and son, Robert, have been in their cabin for ten days. She is a city person, yet she is enjoying the simplicity and challenges of the country more and more. She wishes, in fact, that the cabin were more primitive and that she could remain on the island through her pregnancy and delivery, living as close to nature as possible. Tom was born and raised in the country. He is extremely self-reliant and competent in the woods. However, he is more than content with as many amenities as possible and looks forward to their return to the comforts and security of home in the city.
In the morning, the husband and wife are having breakfast, talking about their son and about their quite different feelings regarding country living. Tom says that he would like to go fishing before it rains and try to catch something for their dinner. His wife encourages him, enjoying the unfamiliar image of him as frontier provider.
She has another cup of coffee, does the dishes, and wonders whether she could really go through the pregnancy and delivery on the island, with none of the supports and safeguards of contemporary hospitals. Part of her yearns to do just that, but she wonders whether she genuinely wants to live closer to nature or whether, as her husband would think, she is indulging in romantic daydreaming.
Nevertheless, she recognizes that her competency, assurance, and independence are increasing the more she lives in the country. She has learned how to make and light a good fire, how to cook on a wood-burning stove, how to recognize edible and poisonous plants, and how to treat stings, burns, and injuries. She has planted an herb garden. Somewhat reassured by her accomplishments, she does some baking and then takes Robert to the government wharf to watch the fishermen bring in their catch.
Several men are working intently, scooping the cod fish out of the boats, tossing them on the wharf, clubbing and filleting them, and then packing them in garbage cans so they can be weighed. The men go about their work with great intensity, concentration, and proficiency. At first, the wife feels disoriented, even dizzy, owing to the sights, sounds, and smells; yet she is also deeply engaged by this timeless scene of humanity harvesting the sea.
The wife and her son return to the cabin, and the boy takes his afternoon nap. With the scene at the wharf still vividly in her memory, she dreamily imagines how readily she would choose to live such a simple, even primitive life away from the complexity of the city. Then, one of the young fishermen from the wharf knocks on her door and asks to use the telephone. She lets him in.
The young man makes his call and then notices that he has left blood stains on the telephone. He apologizes and asks for a rag to clean it. The wife looks at his hands and notices myriad shallow cuts on them, some recent and many scarred over. He tells her that they are inevitable given the sharpness of the knives they use. She startles him by dipping her fingers into the blood on his hands and drawing lines across her forehead and down her cheeks. He takes the rag from her, spits on it, and wipes the blood from her face. Then he leaves.
That evening, Tom returns to the cabin. He tells his wife that although he did not catch any fish, he nevertheless has a beautiful cod for their dinner that was given to him by a young man in gratitude for her allowing him to use the telephone. Later on they make love, and Tom is surprised by the directness and intensity of his wife's desire. Then they sleep, as Sunday night turns into Monday morning.