The Bingo Van
This short story comes from a larger compilation of stories by the American Indian writer Louise Erdrich. It tells of Lipsha, an American Indian who attends the local Bingo game nightly in hopes of winning the blackout prize of a van. To his delight, Lipsha indeed wins the van however his entire perspective on what is important in life is drastically changed when he realizes what things are important in life and what things are but fleeting desires. In one’s own life, there is a belief today that a nicer automobile, a larger house, a better position at work or a nicer body can bring true happiness. But like Lipsha, this happens one’s life as well, when one comes to an understanding of the deeper meanings of life and what brings lasting happiness and what brings temporary satisfaction. What does it take for one to realize that material possessions are not the key to lasting joy? For Lipsha, it is the role of Serena, in the short story The Bingo Van to act as the catalyst that enables him to discover what is important in life and what is not and to discern where the yearnings of his heart lie.
Serena is a seventeen year old girl with a two year old son. She has been forced to grow up quickly and has subsequently learned what is important in life—the relationships one has and the love that comes from those relationships. Serena hopes to open a clothing shop where she can design the clothes, sell them, and make enough income to support herself and her son and to be able to spend time with him and be the good mother she wants to be. When she meets Lipsha, she likes him but can sense that he still holds childish insecurities and does not have his priorities straight. Serena helps him to see what is right from wrong and where his allegiances should lie.
The night that Lipsha finally wins a blackout and wins the van as a prize, Serena is at home, caring for her son, Jason, who has fallen very ill. But instead of helping out Serena and Jason and offering to give them a ride to the hospital, Lipsha instead goes on a joy ride by himself, eventually ending up very drunk and making bad decisions. The van gives Lipsha temporary fulfillment of life. He becomes a slave to materialism and thinks the only way to find contentment is to constantly find new objects that will make him popular, successful and consequently, happy. The following morning, he finds his van completely wrecked with the sides dented in and he interior demolished. He was only able to enjoy his van for one night and he discovers how fleeting material goods can be and how they can not bring true happiness because they can disappear just as quickly as they appear.
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