The unemployed men of a small town have a daily routine of visiting the village green to watch the mists dissipate or form from the fields. Sometimes, they wait for the newsboys to bring word of the horses they’ve betted on or for the Greyhound pub to open, all while listening to a neighbor’s parrot squawk. Jack Haines, however, chooses not to congregate with these men, instead tending to the small garden outside his and his wife’s cottage or teaching his son, Cyril, how to play the mouth-organ. Despite their meager financial situation, the Haines’ are very hospitable to their guests; Jack’s wife will buy little cakes for the guests to eat and Jack will tell them stories. Rather than telling his war stories, Jack will recount his win at the South Berks shove-halfpenny championship. While he is immensely proud of his champion status and the trophy, he had to sell it for the money. Years ago, Jack’s condition had been much worse. After the war, there were very few jobs, and Jack would sit with the other unemployed men in boredom. When Cyril began to grow, Jack realized his son was very curious and eager to learn. He began to change his behavior, starting his garden and being more present with his family. He even once took Cyril with him to cut down trees from a man’s estate and sell the remaining wood.             As Cyril and his father grew closer, they began establishing their nightly habit of visiting the Greyhound to play a game on the shove-halfpenny board. They also often visited other pubs, with Jack playing the mouth-organ and Cyril listening to the other villagers and workmen chime in with song. During these visits to the pubs, Cyril frequently snuck sips of his father’s beer when he was not looking. If Jack caught him, he would threaten Cyril with a slap, but over time, some of the village women began to notice the boy’s drinking habit. One day, Jack notices Cyril seems much fatter than he used to be. Gradually, he realizes Cyril’s body is not fat, but rather is swelling. He refuses to seek help for his son, but then relents and calls a charity nurse. She whisks him off to a hospital, and when Jack goes to visit him, he is told Cyril has a problem with his kidneys. When Mrs. Haines softly suggests that perhaps Cyril should not have been drinking beer, Jack snaps at her, saying Cyril will have all the beer he desires. Every day, Jack visits Cyril with chocolate biscuits, and every night, he drinks himself to sleep. After several weeks have passed, Jack is told that Cyril is in critical condition and will not last the day. Jack tries his best to cheer his son up when he sees him, telling him of all the exciting things they will have and do when he is better. Jack takes out his mouth-organ and asks Cyril what he wants to hear. They play and sing two songs, but when Jack asks for a third, Cyril is silent. After the funeral, Jack sits with the other unemployed men at the village green. When he hears the parrot squawk, he throws his mouth-organ into a ditch.