A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Summary

"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" is a novel by Ernest Hemingway. The story is about an old, deaf man and two waiters at a cafe. The story begins with the two waiters speaking about the deaf man. The older waiter of the two tells the younger that the old man attempts suicide, but his niece saves him. As the story continues, a young couple goes by the cafe - a soldier and girl. When this couple goes by the cafe, the waiters make a comment about the young soldiers curfew. Afterwards, the younger waiter goes over to the old man who is asking for a drink. The young waiter wants to go home, so he acts as though he does not understand. Realizing what the waiter is doing, the old man acts out and spills his drink on purpose. After numerous conversations, the younger waiter makes the old man leave. As the cafe is all cleaned up, the young waiter goes home, but the older waiter thinks he understands the old man's desire for staying at a cafe. Due to this, the old man goes to a bar because all cafes are closed. After going to a bar, he looks around and realizes that he enjoys cafes better. After his first drink he goes home to his insomnia and, with daylight, goes to sleep.