“Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice” –Anonymous, this sentiment is the closest description of this story possible in less than a sentence. It can only be inferred that had the father in the story read this quote he may have chosen his actions a bit more wisely, especially those decisions concerning his son. In reading the passage it is easy to decipher the numerous themes expressed by the author such as immaturity on the behalf of the father, ineffective parental structure in the home, and the startling distrust between the father and son. Wolff effectively portrays a contrast of the traditional family unit and challenges the strained relationships found more and more commonly between modern families today. In the opening lines of the passage the narrator say, “He’d had to fight for the privilege of my company, because my mother was still angry with him for sneaking me into a nightclub during his last visit…” The narrator uses this brief introduction of his father to also subtly convey his father’s immaturity. This line also lets the reader know that the Narrator’s parents are separated, adding tension to the plot once again. The father once again reveals his childlike tendencies in lines 7-9 when “…he observed some rare quality that made it necessary for us to get in one last run. We got in several last runs. He was indifferent t my fretting.” The narrator, even as an adolescent acknowledges the need for he and his father to get on their way home yet the father ignores this and instead attempts to be the “fun” parent. The narrator is also obviously hurt somewhat that his father doesn’t notice his obvious discomfort in continuing to ski after the weather worsens. This is later proven in lines 14-15 when the narrator states, “I swayed from foot to foot, clapping my mittens and wishing I wash home.” The narrator is both a victim and small-time antagonist of the ongoing problems between the mother and father. Like many children of separated parents the narrator at times has had to possibly pick sides in order to please one parent at the cost of the feelings and sometimes credibility of the other. This can be inferred if you refer back to the opening lines when the narrator admits that his mother found out about the father and son going to a nightclub. The narrator lives with his mother so it’s