Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite
An Alternate Romance by Robert E. Kearns tells us about Patrick Purcell, a 57-year-old bachelor leading a solitary life in his parents' old house. A meat processing plant worker, Purcell is very humble in his needs. His house requires renovation, and he hardly uses any furniture or appliance except a chair, bed, or a teacup. Once a week, he visits a local bar for a couple of beers and a little chat with a bartender. Purcell's life is routine, but it doesn't bother him. Looking out of the window one rainy evening, Purcell notices a girl sitting on the stone wall near his house. It seems that the girl has only one leg. From now on, Purcell's life changes for good. He looks for the mysterious girl and waits for her every evening. But why does she appear only on rainy nights? And what do these meetings portend for Purcell?
An Alternate Romance explores the depths of human loneliness with almost frightening frankness. Robert E. Kearns describes the conditions of Purcell's everyday life in great detail, making us wonder how someone could be contented with a life like this. For me, inner distress is skillfully shown by the gifted author. The fact that Purcell has enough money to renovate his home but doesn't want to spend on it makes him a perfect example of a captive of routine. Thus, the contrast becomes even sharper after Purcell meets a girl without a leg, for the routine gets broken. I liked the depiction of this important metamorphosis. Purcell cares about the unknown girl who looks cold and miserable, representing the other kind of loneliness - imposed by others. Robert E. Kearns exposes the hypocrisy of a cruel society that turned away from a young woman with special needs, revealing it step by step. I cannot praise enough the fine irony of the unforeseen ending of this little masterpiece. Robert E. Kearns entwines old Irish superstitions, a Catholic worldview, and the main features of a perfect horror story. I recommend An Alternate Romance to fans of short and psychological prose, romance, and horror genres.
