1. pull brake lever.
2. cable moves through housing.
3. cable moves paddle inside the caliper that wakes up the magical gnomes who then telepathically sense that you have to stop.
4. gnome uses telekinesis to move the brake arm against the rim, then uses telekinesis to slow/stop the entire bike.
i mean, what's so hard about that? come to think of it, sounds like our boy charlie has a problem with some punk-ass, lazy brake gnomes. front brake gnomes are the worst, too. he'll probably have to take the bike in and have them replaced.