Contemporary story
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My Friend Luke

I have a friend who must be the sweetest, shyest person in the world. His name is brittle and ancient (Luke), his age modestly intermediate (forty). He is rather short and skinny, has a thin moustache and even thinner hair on his head. Since his vision is not perfect, he wears glasses: they are small, round and frame-less.

In order not to inconvenience anyone, he always walks sideways. Instead of saying 'Excuse me', he prefers to glide by one side. If the gap is so narrow that it will not allow him to pass, Luke waits patiently until the obstruction -- be it animate or inanimate, rational or irrational -- moves by itself. Stray dogs and cats panic him, and in order to avoid them he constantly crosses from one side to of the road to another.

He speaks with a very thin, subtle voice, so inaudible that it is hard to tell if he is speaking at all. He has never interrupted anybody. On the other hand, he can never manage more than two words without somebody interrupting him. This does not seem to irritate him; in fact, he actually appears happy to have been able to utter those two words.

My friend Luke has been married for years. His wife is a thin, choleric, nervous woman who, as well as having an unbearably shrill voice, strong lungs, a finely drawn nose and a viperous tongue suffers from an uncontrollable temper and the personality of a lion tamer. Luke -- you have to wonder how -- has succeeded in producing a child named (by his mother) Juan Manuel. He is tall, blond, intelligent, distrustful, sarcastic and has a fringe. It is not entirely true that he only obeys his mother. However, the two of them have always agreed that Luke has little to offer the world and therefore choose to ignore his scarce and rarely expressed opinions.

Luke is the oldest and the least important employee of a dismal company that imports cloth. It operates out of a very dark building with black-stained wooden floors situated in Alsina street. The owner -- I know him personally -- is called don Aqueróntido -- I don't know whether that is his first name or his surname -- and he has a ferocious moustache, is bald and has a thunderous voice. He is also violent and greedy. My friend Luke goes to work dressed all in black, wearing a very old suit that shines from age. He only owns one shirt -- the one he wore for the first time on the day of his marriage -- and it has an anachronistic plastic collar. He also only owns one tie, so frayed and greasy that it looks more like a shoelace. Unable to bear the disapproving looks of don Aqueróntido, Luke, unlike his colleagues, does not dare work without his jacket on and in order to keep this jacket in good condition he wears a pair of grey sleeve-protectors. His salary is ludicrously low, but he still stays behind in the office every day and works for another three or four hours: the tasks don Aqueróntido gives him are so huge that he has no chance of accomplishing them within normal hours. Now, just after the don Aqueróntido cut his salary yet again, his wife has decided that Juan Manuel must not do his secondary studies in a state school. She has chosen to put his name down for a very costly institution in the Belgrano area. In view of the extortionate outlay this involves, Luke has stopped buying his newspaper and (an even greater sacrifice) The Reader's Digest, his two favourite publications. The last article he managed to read in the Reader's Digest explained how husbands should repress their own overwhelming personality in order to make room for the actualisation of the rest of the family group.

*

There is, however, one remarkable aspect to Luke: his behaviour as soon as he steps on a bus. Generally, this is what happens:

He requests a ticket and begins to look for his money, slowly. He holds up one hand to ensure that the driver keeps waiting, unsure of what to do. Luke does not hurry. In fact, I would say that the driver's impatience gives him a certain amount of pleasure. Then he pays with the largest possible number of small coins, which he delivers a few at the time, in varying amounts and at irregular intervals. For some reason, this disturbs the driver, who, apart from having to pay attention to other cars, the traffic lights, other passengers getting on or off, and having to drive the bus itself, is forced to perform complicated arithmetic. Luke aggravates the problem by including in his payment an old Paraguayan coin that he keeps for the purpose and which is invariably returned to him. This way, mistakes are usually made in the accounts and an argument ensues. Then, in a serene but firm manner, Luke begins to defend his rights, employing arguments so contradictory that it is impossible to understand what point he is actually trying to make. Finally, the driver, at the end of the last tether of his sanity and in an act of final resignation, chooses to throw out the coins -- perhaps as a means of repressing his wish to throw out Luke or, indeed, himself.

When winter comes, Luke always travels with the windows wide open. The first to suffer as a result of this is Luke himself: he has developed a chronic cough that often forces him to stay awake entire nights. During the summer, he closes his window and will not allow anyone to lower the shade that would protect him from the sun. More than once he has ended up with first-degree burns.

Because of his weak lungs, Luke is not allowed to smoke and, in fact, he hates smoking. In spite of this, once inside the bus he cannot resist the temptation to light up a cheap, heavy cigar that clogs up his windpipe and makes him cough. After he gets off, he puts away his cigar in preparation for his next journey.

Luke is a tiny, sedentary, squalid person and has never been interested in sports. But come Saturday evening, he switches on his portable radio and turns the volume up full in order to follow the boxing match. Sundays he dedicates to football and tortures the rest of the passengers with the noisy broadcasts.

The back seat is for five passengers. In spite of his very small size, Luke sits so as to allow room for only four or even three people on the seat. If four are already seated and Luke is standing up, he demands permission, in an indignant and reproachful tone, to sit down -- which he then does, managing to take up an excessive amount of space. To this end, he puts his hands in his pockets so that his elbows will remain firmly embedded in his neighbours' ribs.

←2

Luke's resources are plentiful and diverse.

When he has to travel standing up, he always keeps his jacket unbuttoned, carefully adjusting his posture so that the lower edge of his jacket hits the face or the eyes of those sitting down.

If anyone is reading, they are easy prey for Luke. Watching him or her closely, Luke places his head near the light so as to throw a shadow on the victim's book. Every now and then he withdraws his head as if by chance. The reader will anxiously devour one or two words before Luke moves back into position.

My friend Luke knows the times when the bus will be fully packed. On those occasions, he consumes a salami sandwich and a glass of red wine. Then, with breadcrumbs and threads of salami still between his teeth and pointing his mouth towards the other passenger's noses, he walks along the vehicle shouting loudly, 'Excuse me'.

If he manages to take the front seat, he never gives it up to anyone. But should he find himself in one of the last rows, the moment he sees a woman with a child in her arms or a weak, elderly person climb on board he immediately stands up and calls very loudly to the front passenger to offer them his seat. Later he usually makes some recriminatory remark against those that kept their seats. His eloquence is always effective, and some mortally ashamed passenger gets off at the next stop. Instantly, Luke takes his place.

*

My friend Luke gets off the bus in a very good mood. Timidly, he walks home, staying out of the way of anyone he meets. He is not allowed a key, so he has to ring the bell. If anyone is home, they rarely refuse to open the door to him. But if neither his wife, his son nor don Aqueróntido are to be found, Luke sits on the doorstep until someone arrives.

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Average: 3 (3 votes)

Comments

Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/19/2005 - 12:23

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This story was interesting but it really didnt lead anywhere. I think the author needs a better conclusion because he left a lot of readers, including me, very confused on the real meaning of this story.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/20/2006 - 01:14

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It’s pretty easy to pick that Luke suffers from a low self-esteem and has a lot of trouble trying to improve his life. He seems to spineless stand up to his boss and is obviously too afraid to bring home a dirty jacket that’s why he wears sleeve protectors. That is why he acts like a real idiot to the bus driver by annoying him and everyone else on the bus. I guess the short story was alright but I would hate to be him in real live!!

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/16/2006 - 03:45

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this is going to sound like a stupid question but did the writing change? i remember having read it a year or two ago, and i used to think about it every now and then. the way a person will think about a past lover and his or her cute quirk, like nibbling cheese instead of eating it, or needing to turn the mug emblem TOWARDS them before drinking out of the mug.

for some reason i dont remember the tone being so casual or written in the first person, and "don Aquerontido" was referred to as "the Arab."

it felt more effective in the second person, and while there were some comments arguing that it was too ambiguous/subtle, that was what i enjoyed about it.

of course, my mind could be totally playing tricks on me and this is the same piece i read one-two years ago.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 10/20/2006 - 13:26

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   I found this story to be absolute genius.
   This description is not something to be skimmed in order to get to the real story; it is the story.  This is a pathetic man who is little in every aspect of his life, which is reflected in how he treats people he has trapped.
   Luke is so spineless as to let his wife have sex with his boss for money (evident because his wages are cut and his wife has more money to spend), and agrees to work late so they can have more time alone.  He pretends to help save money for Juans education by sacrificing his only enjoyable reading material.  Since hes been wearing the same shirt everyday since before his teenager was born, he has little else to give up.
   His bully of a violent and greedy boss, either "don Aqueróntido" in the online version or an "Arab" in the printable version, will even keep Luke locked out of his own house whenever he wishes. Luke is so enslaved that one of his joys involves eating smelly food, leaving it in his teeth, and breathing in the faces of his victims.
   Pathetic doesnt even come close to how lifeless this man must be inside, working seven days a week importing cloth without any thought of getting a new scrap for his own use.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 01/09/2007 - 06:52

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I read this story two years ago when I was searching for some ideas for a paradoxical composition I had to write for english class and during this time span My Friend Luke has popped into my mind on several ocassions.
I think this story is absolutely hilarious. A work of art.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/20/2007 - 17:35

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This is a hysterical story !! It makes me wonder about the random faces we encounter on a daily basis, the effect of our attitudes on others and why others have the attitudes they do I love it !! Lukes only reason for living is his bus rides and he probably sits up at night thinking of new ways to torture his fellow bus passengers and the driver.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 04/20/2007 - 12:13

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i thought this story was very intresting in alot of ways.
One way is the story keeps you wondering what
heppens next. It is wierd and funny how he goes out
of his way to annoy people so much. Luke needs some
proffesional attention, but people have been mean to
him. i think this story is wierd but intresting story and
i would love to know more about this story.
By: Mary Holter

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 21:05

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lol

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/29/2007 - 11:54

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rubbish

Submitted by admin on Sun, 10/14/2007 - 16:47

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As a writer of comedy, I find it funny that so many people have complained about this story not having a point. The point of this story is to make you laugh. Another thing I find amusing is the attempt to parse Lukes personality. I get the same reaction from people regarding my characters. The truth is (speaking for myself anyway) I dont give a damn about my characters, theyre compositional elements, and the design is one big joke.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 14:24

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it is not funny story.
I cant understand the whole story.
But I feel it makes me to waarm
it is the story about his friend as Luke.
He is timid but highly irrating man
You would feel like me after read it

Submitted by admin on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 02:24

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Luke is an interesting character. But, thats about it. Nothing else here. Ofcourse, Fernando has immense talent with character sketches or he actually knows Luke, I dont know. Just read it and forget it.

- Mubariz, Mysore, India

Submitted by admin on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 17:02

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brilliant.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 13:49

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i think the story refers to something inside of someone. i think that each of the characters represent a different aspect of the persons personality. i dont know, maybe im not getting it.

i dont think its funny, but i do find it interesting.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 04/02/2008 - 10:16

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The bus is the one and only place where Luke asserts himself. It is the one place where his actions translate into at least a modicum of control. Bus rides make the rest of his life bearable.

Submitted by admin on Sun, 05/11/2008 - 05:19

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the part of the story that made it all make sense was literally the very last sentence.

But if neither his wife, his son nor **don Aqueróntido** are to be found, Luke sits on the doorstep until someone arrives.

Notice mt stars, he is very timid and repressed because his wife is cheating on him, what other reason would there be for not having a key to his own home. Why would he be let into his own house by his boss. Why else would he work late, so he wouldnt have to deal with the harsh reality of what is going on in his own home. Why else would he act out so much on the bus, it is the only place that he can inflict some torment onto other people, but it still does not make up for the torment in his life, the stunning realization that he works so hard to ignore and disavow, that his wife and his boss are sleeping together, and that they dont even have enough respect for him to try and hide it. For this reason he has to hide it from himself.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 16:40

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Not sure why everyone thinks the boss was Arab. I didnt see that word appear at all in the story. What are you guys deducing from?? or did Fernando revise?

Anyways, this story was really interesting. It definitely tells a story, though not in your average way. I might complain about the seemingly pointless ending, but the lyrical style that fernando employs is enjoyable enough to carry you right through, and the hints are all there to paint you a larger picture--whether that picture is the one Fernando wants us to see is something only the writer could answer, but if you think for a second or longer about this tale, Im sure youll pull something from it.

Personally, I was not moved to sympathize with this petty little man. His life is a prison and he loves it--make no mistake about it. He gets off on antagonising people on the bus. If a magic genie were to allow him to keep his presently abased existence or trade it in for one thats more fulfilling what do you think Luke would choose? Hed keep the one hes got! Its already so very fulfilling to him, evident by his behavior and complete lack of motivation to live any other way.

There are millions and billions just like him in the world. If you dont like your situation in life, deal with it or change it, but dont make it someone elses problem, too. We all have enough problems of our own to deal with. Being an adult means taking responsibility for our choices.

I really love Sorrentinos writing. His brain is this incredible toy-box that youll never quite know what hes going to pull out, but hell always work it into some kind of absurd, silly story. He could write anything well, it seems, because he just has a playful relationship with words!

Well done, as always :)

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/17/2009 - 10:36

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An amazing story.Only great writers like fernando can write such beautiful and heart rendering stories.The story is witty too.The writer has got an excellent prowess.I felt like both laughing and crying at every point and reading each and every line of the story carefully,an attempt which I have never made before

Submitted by admin on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 09:25

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This was a great short (very short) story. I kept thinking that I missed some pages the way some commenters went on about the beginning & the ending of the story. Some of you are totally overanalyzing this piece. The ones who dont get it should be reading Tom Clancy or some other drivel. You must have a sense of humor & you must be intelligent to get this story. Mr. Sorrentino is a brilliant writer.

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