A Man and a Brother

Introduction

“A Man and a Brother” is a short (about 300 words) humorous story set in the small town of Malville. It tells the tale of Old Ezra Kiles, a man who becomes obsessed with evolution after seeing a baboon at a circus. His antics, driven by his belief in human evolution, lead to a series of absurd and comical events.

Summary

The story begins when Old Ezra Kiles, a resident of Malville, becomes unusually fixated on the topic of evolution. His obsession manifests during a circus visit when he encounters a baboon in a steel cage. Ezra, convinced that the baboon is a close relative to humans, demands the circus manager release the animal, arguing that the baboon should be free to enjoy the blessings of civilization and pursue its own destiny.

Despite Ezra’s impassioned plea, the manager refuses, leading Ezra to approach the cage and speak to the baboon as if it were human. He asks whether the baboon’s ego is suffering behind the bars. In response, the baboon grabs Ezra by the beard and repeatedly slams his face into the cage bars. This violent interaction is witnessed by Nub Smalls, the village humorist, who sarcastically remarks that the baboon’s ego seems to be functioning just fine. This angers Ezra, who then attacks Nub, beating him until others manage to pull him away.

After the incident, Ezra continues his rants, quoting notable figures such as Darwin, Huxley, and Haeckel to support his views. Most people in town assume that Ezra is drunk, so they detain him in the sheriff’s office for the night, as the jail is undergoing repairs. When the sheriff arrives, he finds Ezra behaving in an even more bizarre manner. Ezra, now naked, is hopping around the office on all fours and attempting to hang from the chandelier by his toes. He proceeds to chase the sheriff around the room, nearly cornering him before bystanders intervene, attracted by the sheriff’s cries for help.

The townsfolk manage to calm Ezra down by offering him coconuts, then tie him up to prevent further chaos. By the next morning, Ezra seems to have returned to his usual eccentric self, and the townspeople release him without further incident.

Characters

  • Old Ezra Kiles: The main character of the story. He is a town eccentric who becomes obsessed with the idea of evolution, to the point of believing a baboon is “a man and a brother.” His antics drive the story, culminating in a comedic series of events where he behaves erratically, attacking others and imitating primate behavior.
  • Nub Smalls: The village humorist. He witnesses the baboon incident and makes a sarcastic remark about Ezra’s relationship with the baboon, which leads to him being beaten by Ezra.
  • The Sheriff: The lawman of Malville. He becomes the target of Ezra’s strange behavior when Ezra, in a wild, animalistic state, chases him around the sheriff’s office. He is eventually rescued by passers-by who subdue Ezra.
  • The Circus Manager: A minor character who refuses Ezra’s demand to release the baboon, setting the events of the story in motion.
  • The Baboon: A central figure in the story’s absurdity, it unintentionally causes Ezra’s outburst by grabbing him and slamming his face into the cage bars.

Published in: