Reunion by John Cheever

The story I read was “Reunion” by John Cheever. This is about a father and son relationship. Charlie sends out a note to his father to meet him at the Grand Central Station in New York where his father resided. Charlie felt that his father was a stranger to him because he had not seen his father in three years after their parent divorced. But once he met up with his father, Charlie explains how excited and happy he was. “But as soon as I saw him I felt that he was my father, my flesh and blood, my future and my doom.” (Gwynn, A Pocket Anthology, pg. 192 ) He wanted the whole world to know that his father was walking right next to him. But as I went through the readings, it seemed that his father did not have deep feeling for Charlie. First of all when they met, the father struck Charlie on his back and then shook his hand. There was no real physical contact. I believe that if the father really cared and missed his son which he hasn’t seen for three years, he would have hugged Charlie and showed more of a reaction of happiness like Charlie explained in the story. I think the father accepted the lunch with Charlie to please him or treated it as a business lunch. “His secretary wrote to say the he would meet me at the information booth at noon, and at twelve o’clock sharp I saw him coming through the crowd.” (Gwynn, A Pocket Anthology, pg. 192)

As they went to different restaurants, it showed me that the father was an arrogant man and he was there to show Charlie that he can take care of anything. He spoke loud and was sarcastic all the time; he had no shame and did whatever he wanted. “We sat down, and my father hailed the waiter in a loud voice. Could we have a little service here!” he shouted.” (Gwynn, A Pocket Anthology, pg. 192). He was always trying to make others look like idiots. “Now, take out your little pad and your little pencil and see if you can get this straight: two Beefeater Gibsons. Repeat after me: two