Summary

The story opens in the fall in Milan. The narrator, an American soldier who was wounded in World War I, describes going to the hospital every afternoon for physical rehabilitation. He explains that although there are many ways to get to the hospital, he must always cross one of three bridges. On one of the bridges is a woman who sells roasted chestnuts. He likes the warmth of the fire and the warmth of the chestnuts once they are in his pocket on the cold, windy, fall days.

Each day while in rehabilitation, he meets up with a group of former soldiers. They sit in their "machines that were to make so much difference" with the hopes of a full recovery from their injuries. We learn that the narrator used to like to play football when his doctor tells him that...