Summary

The short story begins with Lucas ruminating on how a frying pan ruined his life, promising readers to explain the full story. He thinks himself to be a happy man, a concept foreign to the consumer culture around him that glorifies unhappiness to sell more products. He is happy primarily because he has removed what he sees as the main driver of unhappiness, other people. He does not agree that the way to be happy is to have company and relationships. Instead, he prefers to spend all his time alone and if anybody ever asks him to do anything, the answer he gives is always no.

Lucas enjoys the freedom of being able to do whatever he wants all the time. He can stock his fridge with what he likes to eat, without compromise, and he does not have to share his bed either...