Dr. Vranek's Determined Day: A Short Story

The short story "Ranko Marinković," a signature piece of Večernji list since 1964, presents a narrative unfolding on a cool autumn morning. Dr. Vranek steps out from a covered entryway into the crisp air, the scent of decaying leaves filling the old square. He decides against returning for a sweater, deeming the four flights of stairs too much, and begins his reluctant journey towards Gračani, fumbling for a lighter amidst his keys.

As he walks, Vranek reflects on his preference for early morning strolls, where he encounters few familiar faces requiring a polite nod. He muses that these acquaintances, often middle-aged women haggling at the market or younger people still asleep, hardly warrant such formality. His thoughts then turn to Ines, whom he has decided not to keep waiting any longer as she approaches her thirty-fifth birthday. He is on his way to meet her for lunch, a journey that will take him about an hour.

Upon arriving at a gate, Vranek is greeted by Pepek, who asks if he wants his usual drink. Vranek, glancing at his watch, opts for an Underberg, a departure from his typical order of Šibenik grappa, prompting a surprised look from Pepek. This moment triggers a deeper reflection for Vranek, who questions when his current complicated life began. He traces it back to his move in with the Levineks and a specific Sunday afternoon when Milena Levinek's father returned from a tennis match. The father-in-law, whose support Vranek needed for a department head position, had relayed a harsh message from someone named Schlacht, dismissing Vranek's academic and professional prospects.

The narrative delves into Vranek's past, recalling the year 1938 when an Austrian corporal held a significant position. He remembers his father-in-law's abrasive tone, amplified by his dental prosthesis, as he relayed Schlacht's insult: "You'll never get your doctorate, because you're shit and useless and all you know is to whine on that stupid violin all day long." Vranek understood that without a doctorate, he would have to leave his university position and work in the provinces, a prospect he found unacceptable, especially concerning his daughter Milena. The story hints at a past conflict with Schlacht, possibly over a lab assistant, and mentions Schlacht's death in 1943, attended by his Masonic lodge members.