The Fishing-Boat Picture Summary

Harry has been a postman for twenty-eight years, and has also been married for twenty-eight years. For the purposes of this story, he says, the marriage fact is much more significant. He recalls a visit to Snakey Wood when he deflowered the girl he married, Kathy, and agreed to marry her at the same time. Friends and family said they were never meant for each other and their marriage wouldn't last five minutes, which upset especially Kathy. Indeed, they did fight a lot, though Harry remembers the good moments, and Kathy was somewhat of shrew; Harry compares marriage to switching one mother for another. The two last six years, not five minutes.

Harry relates their last big fight, which involves Kathy coming on to Harry and Harry, with his nose buried in a good book, rejecting her romantic overtures...