Synopsis of Mr. Bojangles

This is the synopsis of the story of Mr. Bojangles:

"Dad, you've done a lot of great things, but you're a very old man, and old people are useless,"

•  This story is about the treatment of the elderly--the fact that people would either treat them like helpless infants or a burden to society
• The seniors of our generation should be treated with respect. They have experience and wisdom. We should look to them and learn from the past to make decisions for our future 
• "Mr. Bojangles"

Once a former entertainer of the early 1900s (1930s/1940s), Charly is now living the last years of his life in present day Los Angeles as a neglected and forgotten senior citizen.

When looking for a way to make money, he finds himself abandoned by the entertainment industry (learning the hard way that yesterday's news is today's garbage). Charly tries to deal with living in a constantly changing city and society the best he can

• the layout of the graphic novel is a series of short stories like Calvin & Hobbes or Little Nemo in Slumberland, but with less of them and a more unifying plot structure.
• Some of the stories consist of Charly taking odd jobs to make money
• looks outside his window and sees the lack of trees in the city, so he decides to sell potted plants. No one buys them, but he places them around in his apartment to recreate the atmosphere he remembers

• Memories of his wife
• remembering his wedding anniversary and makes pancakes for the occasion. He remembers flipping them off the pan and onto the plate--his wife caught the flying pancake with a plate (flashback part). The pancake falls on the ground. The dog eats it off the floor. There is no more pancake mix. Charly eats cold cereal for breakfast. 

• Feeling small and unimportant
• he imagines himself in certain situations--As an autumn leaf falling from a tree. Has fun gliding down. When he gets to the ground, people step all over him. The next image is him sitting on a park bench looking down at trampled leaves. 

• Memories of his entertaining days
• The end of the book
• could not afford his room anymore, could not stand how the elderly were treated in the convalescent home. He lives on the street and tries to make money.
• The last scene is him performing on the street. A child excitedly watches him dance
• He imagines when he was in the height of his career. The crowds cheer and the audience adores him.