In an attempt to relieve some shame and guilt about his involvement in the war, middle-aged writer “O’Brien” relates a story about himself that he has never before told anyone. “O’Brien’s” story is about the summer of 1968 when he was 21 years old and was drafted to serve in the Army. Before his draft notice arrived, “O’Brien” had taken a mild stand against the war in the form of campaigning for the presidential campaign of anti-war advocate Eugene McCarthy and writing college newspaper editorials against the war.
He recounts his thoughts on receiving a draft notice, feeling that he was not suited for war because his educational accomplishments and graduate school prospects were too great. O’Brien tells his father that his plan for the summer is to wait and work. He spends his summer working at a pig slaughterhouse and meatpacking plant. The work is messy and unpleasant, and O’Brien feels his life going out of control.
Around mid-July, O’Brien begins thinking about crossing the border into Canada to avoid the draft. He weighs the morality of this decision as he fears losing respectability, being ridiculed, and being caught by authorities.
While at work in the slaughterhouse, O’Brien suddenly feels an urge to go to Canada. He leaves work and drives north along the Rainy River, the natural border between the U.S. and Canada. Exhausted and scared, O’Brien stops, still on the U.S. side of the border, at a shabby old fishing resort. The elderly owner, Elroy Berdahl, rents him a cabin. Elroy does not pry into O’Brien's plans, though they are probably fairly obvious. O’Brien continues to feel nervousness and fear, and above all else, shame for running to Canada, but he joins Elroy in chores around the lodge to forget about his troubles.
When figuring O’Brien's bill, Elroy recalls the chores O’Brien had done, decides that instead he owes O’Brien money, and gives him $200. O’Brien refuses the money, though he would need it if he did continue on to Canada. But Elroy tacks it to O’Brien's cabin door with a note marked “Emergency Fund.”
During O’Brien's last day at the lodge, Elroy takes him fishing on the river. O’Brien the narrator comments on the thoughts that flashed through his mind. He remembers crying and feeling helpless while Elroy just keeps on fishing, pretending not to notice. O’Brien tries to force himself out of the boat and toward the Canadian shore but can not compel himself to flee to Canada. They return to the lodge, and O’Brien departs for home and, eventually, for Vietnam.
