Mother's Day (Short Story) Summary
George Saunders

Mother's Day (Short Story) Overview

In George Saunders's third person short story "Mother's Day," an elderly woman, Alma Carlson, takes a walk with her daughter Pammy. Everything she sees along the way, and everything her daughter says, aggravates Alma. Then, when she sees her late husband Paul's ex-lover, Debi, up ahead, Alma cannot control the angry movements of her mind. Seeing Alma similarly dampens Debi's spirit. Throughout the narrative, both women's streams of consciousness move between past and present, as they attempt to reconcile themselves with their old hurts and longings. The story explores themes including resentment and identity.