Summary

The short story “The Splinter” by Ron Carlson presents the narrator and his son, Rick, driving through Utah, Arizona in a Corona car. They are following the narrator’s boss, Damon, and Damon's girlfriend, Veronica, who are in a jeep. The narrator wonders if Damon invited him on the camping trip out of pity. He reflects on how Rick has managed to get through the fifth grade and summer camp after his mother, Amelia, died.

At one point, they stop their cars, and Rick takes a walk with Veronica. As the narrator watches them, he notices that Rick is happy even though he is limping. 

At the camping site, Damon and Rick dig out an old fire ring and start preparing the new fire, because Damon has promised Rick he can be fire master. As Damon and Veronica also notice the limping, the narrator reveals that Rick has a ...