The narrator, reflecting on his past, gazes out from the porch in search of his deceased father. Despite his father’s passing fourteen years prior, the narrator still yearns for him deeply. Desiring to immortalize his father’s essence through writing, the narrator hopes to encompass all facets of his father’s being and experiences. Memories flood back, recalling his father’s habitual walks and chance encounters in town after school, revealing that constant movement was a coping mechanism against loneliness ingrained since childhood.
In the narrative, the father, aged 65 in 1986, shares a similar age with the narrator. He descends from the family home, shared with the narrator’s mother, G, to visit his own mother, Ellen, residing in care for the past five years. Ellen’s passing in 1987 leaves unspoken mysteries, such as the father’s relocation from Alexandria to Norway as a 13-year-old, alone for schooling. His upbringing in various locales, including Northern Africa and Geneva, is attributed to the Judge, his father, whose work led the family to Egypt in 1926 when the father was five years old.
Possessing his father’s documents and sketches from their Alexandria residence, the narrator strives to reconstruct his father’s story, riddled with gaps and untold tales. Despite fragments of recounted stories, a substantial void remains within the narrator, longing to fill it with his father’s narrative. Vivid recollections surface, depicting moments of his father’s life, from Alexandria’s ocean-facing bedroom to encounters with figures like the Judge, Ellen, and his Norwegian hosts, Mr. and Mrs. K.
Delving into his father’s adolescence in Stabekk, Norway, during 1934-1936, the narrative unfolds a tale of isolation and longing. Struggling to connect amidst unfamiliar surroundings, the father finds solace in solitary activities, like exploring the forests and fixing bicycles. Letters from the Judge offer scant comfort, exacerbating his yearning for familial connection. Joining the scouts provides a brief respite from loneliness, albeit tinged with reminders of loss, notably through Mrs. K’s grief over her deceased son.
The narrative navigates through pivotal stages of the father’s life, marked by tumultuous relationships and geopolitical upheavals. His infatuation with Paola and subsequent heartbreak, coupled with encounters with political turmoil in Germany, underscore the father’s journey of self-discovery and resilience. Amidst personal trials, like Ellen’s deteriorating mental state and subsequent departure, the father grapples with profound loss and disillusionment.
As the narrative unfolds, the father’s trajectory converges with historical events, including World War II, prompting his involvement in resistance efforts against Nazi occupation. Themes of love, loss, and perseverance permeate the father’s narrative, culminating in poignant moments of introspection and reconciliation.
Ultimately, the narrator grapples with the elusive nature of truth in recounting his father’s story, recognizing the interplay between memory and interpretation. Through meticulous examination of photographs and personal recollections, the narrator seeks to honor his father’s legacy while confronting the complexities of familial bonds and personal identity.