Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered

The boys interact with the farm animals in a myriad of ways, and each in their own unique ways. Harris has lived on the farm his whole life, knows the animals well, and is more comfortable and even abrasive with them. He is keen to use the animals in his experiments and games, turning them into enemies, targets, and steeds. The protagonist interacts with the animals on a more empathetic level, observing them and being generous with them, such as when he shares his mice with Buzzer the lynx. Despite their differences, the boys share a common approach when it comes to innocent fun. They both use the animals as vehicles to ride, jumping on the pigs and riding Bill the horse to imitate Gene Autry.

Each farm animal within the story represents a different aspect of farm life. The horses represent discipline, patience, and hard work: moving their hay (“after haying was done all the hay had to be either stacked or pulled up into the loft” (63)), training them, and keeping them calm. Buzzer the lynx represents the unconditional acceptance of the Larson family, flaws and all. The pigs represent the nitty gritty, dirty nature of farm life and living close to the earth. The mice represent little secrets, like Louie’s table of miniatures. Finally, the farm animals represent the connection with nature that comes with living on a farm.

Food throughout the novel represents togetherness, satisfaction, and the idea of having one’s needs not only met but exceeded. The first time the protagonist meets the Larsons, he is offered some food from the night before. But his first in-depth interaction with them takes place at their first breakfast together. From there, food is used as a transitional tool, to bring the family together, and as a symbol for comfort.

When the protagonist sits down for the first breakfast with the Larsons, he can observe their habits, mannerisms, and gets a glimpse of each of their personalities. He notes Louie’s dirty, rough, silent manner while he consumes several stacks of pancakes (“The entire stack [of pancakes] was gone in ten seconds flat” (14); he sees Knute sit silently, eat nothing, and drink his coffee in a stoic fashion; he observes Clair and Glennis labor at the stove and never take a moment to sit or eat; and he listens to Harris explain everything they are seeing in an open, honest way.

The protagonist is injured on his first full day on the farm, and Clair offers him pie to comfort him after the event. Harris teaches the protagonist how to separate milk, and the protagonist learns the meaning of effort. Later, the Larsons travel to town, and the protagonist receives several bottles of orange pop. These memories stick out to him and seem to represent the more sensory-based side of his reflections.