The Traveller Short Story

Feeling like not belonging anywhere is a hard thing to swallow. In Ryan O’Neill’s short story, The Traveller, we follow Lockhart, who has based his life on a lie, just to feel acceptance from the people around him.
The story begins with Lockhart is introduced. He is there to pick up Paul, his nephew, who has won a prize for memorizing capitals all over the world. On their way home, Lockhart tests Paul’s skill, and the conversation turns to sponsorship papers for Lockhart’s orphanage in Africa. Paul’s mother is also at the doctor for a checkup, which is explained later. When they got home, Lockhart hurries to the bathroom, so he can ‘escape’ from Paul, which he knew would else hover around him. The sister, Narelle, comes home a few minutes after Lockhart is done with his bath, asking about his day. They start talking, and the conversation first revolves around money from a fundraiser to Lockhart’s orphanage, but then takes a different direction, when Narelle tells about her checkup. She has already lost one breast to cancer, now it seems like the cancer is returning. She wants Lockhart to tell Paul, because Paul looks up to Lockhart. However, he does not tell Paul. Instead, he waits for everyone to settle down, and then he packs his things and leaves.
The reader is first introduced to Lockhart, who is the story’s protagonist. He is shown as a good person, who cares about others. He carries loose change to throw at beggars. However, he is rather awkward socially. The