At what time of year does Gene return to Devon to visit? What atmosphere or mood is created by setting the story during this season? What do Gene's...

Gene returns to Devon in the fall fifteen years after he graduated. Autumn usually signifies age, or the process of aging, which also connects to the time since he's been at the school. As people generally do when they have aged, Gene reminisces about his teenage years, the people he knew and the things he did or accomplished.

Gene says that the weather is "raw" and the day is "the kind of wet, self-pitying November day when every speck of dirt stands out clearly. . . but this day it blew wet, moody gusts all around me" (10). There is a lot of symbolism in what he says here. First, the word "raw" suggests that his memories are fresh in his mind. Next, Gene might also be in a state of self-pity since he applies that feeling to the weather. Then, he says the wind is moody, which is just how Gene feels—he also says that he is feeling fear and joy at the same time.

When Gene gets to the tree that he and Phineas had jumped from while in high school, he describes the scene as follows:

"A little fog hung over the river so that as I neared it I felt myself becoming isolated from everything except the river and the few trees beside it. The wind was blowing more steadily here, and I was beginning to feel cold" (13).

The fog seems to create an atmosphere of loneliness or isolation for Gene. He is strolling down memory lane by visiting places where tragic events happened in his young life. This is bound to bring out sorrow, as well as joy. The rain and wind seem to carry with them a mood linked to grieving and loss, along with many other emotions that have come and gone throughout the years.