Starter Villain

“He and I had been laid off from the Trib around the same time. I was annoyed with him now because, while his new perch at Parking Magazine was a reputational step down from the Tribune, he was still somehow in journalism, while I was substitute teaching in my old school district. […] Here was Peter friggin’ Reese on Squawk Box, living in Washington DC, while I ate my toast in a house I grew up in but didn’t technically own, with a cat as my only friend.”

At the outset of the narrative, Charlie grapples with a sense of displacement and isolation. Charlie's frustration is palpable as he navigates the stagnation in his career, facing the reality of being unable to secure another journalistic position. His sentiments are compounded by the success of his former colleague, Peter Reese, whose advancement in their shared field serves as a reminder of Charlie's own perceived shortcomings. Charlie's jealousy is not rooted in a covetous desire for Reese's position, but rather in the bitter recognition that someone he views as less talented has surpassed him professionally.

“I didn’t need another cat. At this point in my brilliant career as an itinerant educator I could barely afford to feed myself. But then, no one ever needs a cat these days. That’s not why we have cats. We have cats because they amuse us and because otherwise our clothes would lack the texture only cat hair can provide. Besides, when a kitten walks up to you and makes demands, what are you going to do? Say no? I repeat: I am not a monster.”

In this quote, Charlie's sarcastic and self-deprecating humor underscores his inherent kindness. His whimsical justifications for acquiring another cat reveal his lighthearted approach to life, emphasizing his desire for companionship despite practical considerations. Moreover, this humor belies a deeper trait of altruism that manifests repeatedly throughout the narrative, often at the expense of his well-being.

“‘Then think of it as a kindness to a stranger,’ Morrison said. ‘A stranger who has no one else to do it.’ I thought about it that way, and for the smallest of moments felt sad for my billionaire uncle that apparently there really was no one else to do it.”

This early interaction illuminates how Charlie's innate kindness can sometimes lead to detrimental outcomes. Despite Morrison's offer of substantial money to represent Jake at the funeral, Charlie initially hesitates. He ultimately relents only when Morrison appeals to Charlie's empathetic nature. This manipulation of Charlie's compassion catalyzes the ensuing chain of events that shapes the narrative's trajectory.