title: Park Benches and Nameless Strangers
author: Vella, Charles
description: Park Benches and Nameless Strangers is a mainstream, coming-of-age love story. It is based partly on my experiences living in the Bronx during 1948 as a foster child. The novel explores the meaning of love. The plot is one of transformation: it is the story of a boy turning sixteen that has not loved anyone since his parents died when he was nine and now questions his ability to love.The story is in Eddie's voice. There are people woven into his day-to-day life who develop positive meaningful relationships with Eddie who is new to the neighborhood. Nancy is a teenage girl he meets in the park and they share common thoughts and dreams. An old, retired man spending his days in the park playing chess answers Eddie's questions on love, male behavior, and sexual preferences with Jewish humor and wisdom. A schoolteacher for whom Eddie runs errands teaches and guides him in his relationship with Nancy and Jack.In contrast, Eddie's foster mother appears indifferent to him, but eventually plays a significant role in resolving Eddie's nightmares about the last day he saw his mother. Jack, a homosexual doorman where Eddie delivers newspapers, tries daily to seduce Eddie. Eddie rejects his offers but accepts Jack as a person. Their friendship is slightly adversarial since Jack persists in his seduction attempts. These characters and others play a crucial role in Eddie learning he can love.