Caroline Woodward's short story Summer Wages reveals a mother's retrospective of working her first summer job at a roadside gas station and restaurant near Fort St. John, British Columbia. Geraldine, mother of fifteen year old, Carrie-Lynn, tells her daughter about her experiences to dissuade Carrie-Lynn from following in her own footsteps. The mother says herself, "Carrie-Lynn doesn't have a high-up Daddy, or Mommy, to pull strings at City Hall." Geraldine often wishes that she was more successful and "higher" in social status; and she wants these for her daughter. The themes that a parent's desire to have the best for her child, and that a parent's good intentions are combined with their own desire for vicarious accomplishment are evident in this story.
             The vivid use of height throughout the story compliments the concurrent themes. References to height are used by the author to suggest societal stature, as well as a comparison between the desired and the undesired. The first reference to height is her explanation that "Carrie-Lynn doesn't have a high-up Daddy or Mommy..." This statement also shows that Geraldine has always wanted to be among those who she believes are socially elite, however she is frightened that she will not be accepted. The desire is shown when she says, "Me, I should join the Business and Professional Women's Club, get on the power lunch and business card swapmeet circuit but I'm afraid they'd turn me down. I couldn't take that." She painfully acknowledges the fact that she cannot reach the same level as the "powerful" women, although she can still possibly feel the pride of being the mother of a successful daughter. Geraldine's statement, "Carrie-Lynn, Carrie-Lynn, that's where you come in," shows her desire for her daughter to be part of the elite women's club
             ...