call wino essay

The Kool-Aid Wino
An Essay by Hope Call

This essay describes a short story titled "The Kool-Aid Wino" by Richard Brautigan. It is about two boys, one who loves Kool-Aid and another who helps supply the first with money to buy Kool-Aid. The Kool-Aid wino is sick with a rupture. His family is poor and unable to get the necessary medical attention to repair his rupture. As a result his illness limits him to light chores around the house as the family pursues hard labor in the fields. Details of the social/economic status of the second boy are unknown. It is assumed that it is higher than that of the Kool-Aid wino.

I consider the Kool-Aid wino to be a negative character. In his world of little, he has discovered one pleasure that provides him escape, hope and enjoyment. This pleasure is Kool-Aid, which he pursues before and above family duties. It is unknown whether he earns the nickel or begs for it, but with the help of his friend the wino purchases a package of Kool-Aid at the local market. Unfortunately, his passion for Kool-Aid combined with his illness has alienated him from his family.

The wino's daily pursuit is to acquire and drink Kool-Aid. The craving is so strong that he is willing to drink Kool-Aid without sugar and with twice the water to extend the amount of drinks. The feeling that Kool-Aid gives him evidently soothes his pain of poverty and sickness. I get the feeling that he is drinking Kool-Aid like there is no tomorrow. In his case of poverty and pain, his long-range thoughts of hope and happiness may be non-existent.

Despite his pain and suffering, he is able to make trips to the store every day to get Kool-Aid. He appears less able to help with his younger siblings and their soiled diapers or finish his chores before preparing the Kool-Aid. My impression is that the drink is for himself, and he is unwilling to share the watered-down potion with his older brothers working in the fields.

Further evidence that portrays a negative image to me is in the expense of the Kool-Aid in relation to earnings. The older siblings working in the field make 2 1/2 cents for each pound of beans they pick. He is buying Kool-Aid for 5 cents a pack. Supporting his apparent Kool-Aid addiction is equal to a significant percentage of individual earnings. The type of lifestyle may promote the boy to substances other than Kool-Aid in the future. Self-gratifying acts such as these are indications of what we know today in drug and alcohol abuse.

On the other hand, his character could be perceived as positive. His devotion to the Kool-Aid can be driven by conditions that his family lives with. Reading between the lines, I can see the wino using his skills to give to his family. The wino may be earning the nickel and preparing the Kool-Aid for his siblings. He dilutes it so that there is enough to go around for the whole family. In this case the Kool-Aid wouldn't be an addiction. By seeing to it that the Kool-Aid is purchased even if that means he has to walk three blocks through the field with heavy grass every day. The ceremony is carried out, and he is ensuring that his family can look forward to something enjoyable and worthwhile.

Another positive aspect is his devotion and dedication to detail. He takes great pride in carrying out the Kool-Aid ritual flawlessly. He is precise and conservative in the fact that he does not use sugar and is careful not to spill a drop of Kool-Aid in the preparation or waste any water when he is finished. This behavior clearly demonstrates that he understands the value of his resources and avoids gluttony and waste. He is creative and is trying to overcome his handicap by inventing his own self-help program. The wino obviously does not depend on his busy entertainment or sympathy of his illness. He is dealing with the adversities of his life by being self-reliant,

However, in my opinion the Kool-Aid Wino's character is more negative than positive. I believe he is hurting himself and his family. It appears the Kool-Aid wino uses his friend for money to buy Kool-Aid. He is also taking advantage of his illness and using the situation in a negative way to benefit him. His Kool-Aid habits may seem innocent today, but this type of learned behavior left unchecked can easily support far worse habits tomorrow.