Rick

“Sometimes Jeff didn’t think before he spoke, or before he acted, especially when he didn’t like something.”

Jeff is Rick’s best friend, but even at the start of the novel, Rick is aware that Jeff has his flaws. Still, Rick tries to think the best of Jeff because Jeff is Rick’s only friend. Jeff is also Rick’s only constant as he transitions to sixth grade at Jung Middle School.

“The way Jeff told it, nothing was ever his fault.”

One of Jeff’s flaws is that he doesn’t acknowledge or take responsibility for his actions. Consequently, others suffer for his entertainment. Rick is often forced to go along with Jeff’s behavior even when he doesn’t agree with it, and Jeff’s behavior causes Rick’s future internal conflict when he joins Rainbow Spectrum later in the book. Jeff’s inability to take responsibility for his actions may stem from his relationship with video games; no action he takes in a game, no matter how violent, has any consequences except as amusement. He has a similar disregard for consequences in real life.

“Jeff at school wasn’t the same as Jeff without other kids around. When it was just the two of them [Rick and Jeff], nothing really bothered Jeff. But in a group, he was always on the lookout for something to make fun of.”

Rick’s observation of Jeff’s dual personalities mirrors Rick’s own internal conflict regarding his friendship with Jeff. Rick is often a bystander when Jeff harms others, but he can’t immediately reject Jeff because Jeff is considerate to Rick. Also, Rick is aware of Jeff’s troubled home life, which, though vague in the novel, complicates their relationship.