Jack and his brother were digging post holes for a fence that served no real purpose, as the Welches had no animals to confine or protect. The task seemed futile, highlighting a sense of pointlessness in their labor. This situation resonates with the idea that some work can feel meaningless, echoing their experiences on the farm where efforts lack tangible outcomes.

Reflecting on this notion years later, the author observes two women in Vietnam who tirelessly strike a truck tire with sticks, embodying a similar sense of earnestness in their seemingly pointless activity. This moment connects to Jack's earlier experiences with the Welches, illustrating the tedious and repetitive nature of certain struggles in life that seem to lead nowhere, reinforcing a feeling of defeat and futility.