Sometimes a Great Notion

Viv was originally from Colorado. After losing both of her parents, she worked at her uncle’s watermelon stand and lived in a room behind the stand. After Hank returned from fighting in the Korean War, he toured the country on his motorcycle. In Colorado, Hank got into a bar fight and wound up in jail. The man he fought agreed not to press charges because he, like Hank, was a veteran. Viv had a part time job at the jail, where she caught Hank’s eye. They met up after Hank was released and made love. Afterwards, Hank was surprised to find that Viv was not interested in talking, and instead she wanted to go skinny-dipping. Hank was struck by her beauty and strangeness, but left after a few days to work in logging in Oregon. When he returned to see Viv after a few months, she immediately agreed to leave with him.

The narrative returns to the present as Hank wakes Lee up to have breakfast and start the day. Lee has still not met Viv. At the logging site, Hank explains the backbreaking work. Lee throws himself into the work despite its difficulty because he does not want Hank to think he is weak.