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Seth Dawson
A teenaged boy and the story’s protagonist. Seth is an insecure follower, seeking approval from the rebellious Adam as he tries to find a path to adulthood. He imitates Adam’s cigarette smoking and clothing style while asking Adam’s advice on how to be cool. He suffers the violent consequences of Adam’s reckless behavior, cowardice, and lies.
Read an in-depth analysis of Seth Dawson.
Adam Lockwood
A teenaged boy and the story’s antagonist. Adam is a leather-jacket-wearing rebel who smokes and brags about picking fights with bigger boys and romancing older girls. Faced with the consequences of his reckless behavior, Adam’s tough-guy image fails him and his friend.
Read an in-depth analysis of Adam Lockwood.
The Black Car’s Driver
A bully whose sense of justice apparently includes violence for minor misdeeds. When a cigarette butt flicked by Adam lands on his car, the aggressive young man and his two husky friends confront Adam and Seth. He violently punishes Seth for the cowardly Adam’s offense.
The Two Girls
A driver and passenger in a red convertible that passes under the bridge. When Adam waves, one of the girls waves back, inspiring him to claim that he often “makes out” with older girls. This claim leaves Seth feeling “awestruck.”
The Truck Driver
The driver of a semi that passes under the bridge. The driver honks his horn in response to Adam’s gesture, leading Seth to try to get another driver to blow a horn. When Seth fails, he asks Adam to explain how he did it. Adam tells him that he can’t because “[i]t’s something you’re born with.”
