Summary

The short story “The Weekly Visit” by Emanuel Melo presents Jake’s habit of visiting his mother every Tuesday night. He began the weekly visits soon after his father had died, five years ago, but, at the moment of the story, he begins to feel that the visits wear him down.

When his worn-down and sick mother opens the door, the two do not even talk. Jake does the chores mumbling, without even removing his coat and eventually, after ten minutes, he changes his clothes and accompanies his mother. She is distressed because she knows Jake has changed – he does not even greet her with a smile – and the weekly visits do not do him good. They both exchange bitter replies, and they feel the visit has indeed become a burden. During the evening, Jake e...