“Short stories are often engaging because of the themes they offer. One theme in “Charles” is that people often do not recognize the flaws or shortcomings in those closest to them. An example is then Laurie called his father “dumb” and a “dusty old mop”; His parents don’t pick up on it, and says he’s just “doing a Charles” which shows their blinded by Laurie’s behavior. Another example is when Laurie leaves the house to attend his first day of school, he “swaggers” out and leaves the house without saying goodbye to his mother. It shows Laurie’s sudden contrast from his behavior before his first day at school, yet his mother is blinded by love, and again, doesn’t pick up it. Later, when Laurie tells a girl to say a curse word, and repeat it