Reunion: Short Story and Father

Reunion is a short story written by John Cheever in 1962. The story takes place in New York in the 60th. We follow this young boy, named Charlie. He tells about the last time he saw his father. He is in New York to visit his grandmother, and decides to meet with his father, who he hasn’t seen in three years. They have a lunch date, but the father is dissatisfied with the waiters, so they move from one restaurant to another, and so on. Because of all the restaurants shifts, the time ran out and Charlie has to get his train home. It is 1.person narrator and it is Charlie’s point of view. Charlie is an young boy in the age about 18. We can tell that by the waiters reaction of the fathers order of cocktails “How old is the boy?´ the waiter asked.” Then Charlie fathers says “Is non of your God-damned business” “I’m Sorry sir, the waiter said, but I won’t serve the boy another drink.”
His parents got divorced three years ago, and he had not seen his father in those years. He looks up to his dad, and wants to be like him when he grows up. “I knew that when I was grown I would be something like him; I would have to plan my campaigns within his imitations”. He seems to be a quiet boy, because he does not say anything to his father about moving from restaurant to restaurant. He just follows. But then again, it could also have something to do with the respect his has to his father. He is proud of being his son, his flesh, and blood. We does not hear so much more about Charlie, but we knows that he play baseball.
The father is a handsome good looking business man. He is the owner of a club and seems very power full. But also a very dominated and proud person, with his own ideas about right and wrong. The father is searching for a discussion in every situation he finds himself into. He is selfish and treats other people in the way he wants to. He talks to the waiters like they were his slaves. “Could we have a little service here! He shouted. Chop-Chop. Then he clapped his hands.” This is a good example of what kind of person he is.
The relationship between Charlie and his father seems very shallow. It’s not like a “normal” father and son relationship with love and happiness. But more shallow and business minded meeting they are having. “Our drinks came, and he cross-questioned me about the baseball season” The relationship between the father and Charlie is more like professional. It seems like the father cares more about the place and the waiters, instead of enjoying the time with his son, who he has not seen for three years.
The story takes place in New York City. Charlie and his father are visiting a lot of different restaurants/cafés. Charlie is original visiting his grandmother and before he leaves the city he meets with his father in New York City. They might be in a pedestrian street because they describe how close the restaurants are to each other.
The theme in this short story of John Cheever is the relationship between parents and children, in this case father and son. How important it is to be a good role model for the children. The parents are what the children can relate to. We can see how much the father means to Charlie, and the father behavior will have a role in how Charlie turns out to be when he is parent himself. That is why it is so important to raise the children well.