As the story opens, Jerry is faced with a dilemma. He wants something different on this vacation. Looking down at the 'wild and rocky bay,' Jerry sees promise and adventure. Although he is old enough to wonder at the possibilities the bay presents to his boyish eyes, he is still young enough to be ambivalent about leaving his mother's side.
Jerry's mother is a widow, conscious of her need to protect her son as well as her son's need to savor the kind of independence every boy his age longs for. On the first day of their vacation, Jerry decides to stay with his mother; his consideration of his mother's feelings is a 'sort of chivalry' on his part. However, the next day, the call of the mysterious bay beckons him, and his mother consents to let him explore the bay by himself. Although he is ecstatic at this opportunity, he finds it sad that his mother, who he has always accompanied, must walk back by herself.
However, he does not change his mind, and this fateful decision seals Jerry's fate and strengthens his resolve to swim the tunnel. By the end of the story, all his work and discipline bears fruit: Jerry manages to swim the tunnel just like the bigger boys did earlier. The sense of accomplishment is palpable.
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