The thermometer is a critical plot device in “A Day’s Wait.” Schatz doesn’t understand the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit measurements, and this misunderstanding leads him to believe that he’s dying. Schatz’s understanding of temperature is based on Celsius. Using Celsius measurements, a temperature of 44 degrees or higher would indicate rapidly approaching death. In Fahrenheit measurements, this number is 111 degrees.

However, the thermometer serves other figurative roles in this work. First, it symbolizes Papa’s role as a caregiver. He’s the one taking Schatz’s temperature and tracking it. He’s the one to worry when it keeps rising, causing him to lie to Schatz about his temperature. Additionally, the thermometer symbolizes Papa’s struggle to acknowledge his son’s maturity. Schatz is fully capable of taking his own temperature, but the people around him insist on babying him. This refusal to accept Schatz’s growing maturity contributes to his misunderstanding and consequent emotional turmoil.

The Book of Pirates serves multiple functions in “A Day’s Wait.” First, it symbolizes miscommunication. Papa reads the story to Schatz in an effort to comfort the boy and hopes it will lull him to sleep. Meanwhile, Schatz tells Papa that he can read if he wants to.