Gran'pa Miller

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Lives on University Street.  Gave Russell an old, beat-up, non-working hand gun.

Allen McClutch

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Allen is the most fascinating character that Russell ever met.  He can make his elbows touch behind his back, he's had his tonsils out twice, he's never been to a dentist, has never tasted strawberries, uses a whole teaspoonful of stickum on his hair on Sundays. Also, a chunk of ice in his mouth don't make his teeth ache, and he's got a grandmother with a black mustache. (Lives at 1218-1/2 West Oakland Avenue, way out past the railroad tracks - if you stroll under the Olive Street viaduct and glance at the concrete abutment you'll see printed in letters 3 feet high in bright red paint the name "Allen McClutch".)  In all probability he'll be wearing a bandage on his head, which he does to mystify the public.  His father's a machinist at the C & A shops.  His family moved from Sanderson, Minnesota.  He swallows ice cream without either leaving it melt in his mouth or chewing it. When he uses the telephone in public he holds the transmitter to his ear and talks into the receiver to further mystify people.  He enjoys annoying people by poking them in the stomach and saying, "How's the old breadbasket?"

Shorty McClellan

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Obtained permission from his parents to smoke cigars on the day he becomes 25 years old; he is now 14. He has already purchased the cigar and has it home in his dresser drawer preserved in a bottle of gasoline.  He will remove it 6 months before his 25th birthday, place it in the sunshine and let it dry out before lighting it.

Hermie Wolper

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19 year-old student who attends school with Russell; wears a derby hat and spends Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Lazy Hours Pool Hall.

Albert Coomer

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Claims to have a very rare type of stomach.  He claims he was almost struck by lightning one time, and his stomach give a funny lurch and toppled over on its side, and ever since then…

Lester McDoltch

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One of the world's greatest banjo players.  He held his banjo up to his chin like a fiddle and played it that way.  Great professors flung up their hands in horror.  But Lester McDoltch twanged ‘em off a solo and they quit muttering and sat down and listened and smiled and nodded and some of ‘em cried from happiness and others…

Fat Johnson

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In 1934, his real name is 'Milford.'  He and Rush had the idea to give a set of encyclopedias to Miss Welch (their seventh grade teacher.) It was Fat's idea to give his teacher a gift since he felt he was going to flunk.  His mother provided a frame for Rush's picture. In 1942, he and his family moved to Quincy, Illinois. He came to town to visit Russell.  He used to be quite hefty but has lost a lot of weight. He was not only close friends with Russell but also Rooster Davis. He used to be a member of Russell's "Blue Light" Sunday School class.  It was mentioned then that his real first name was 'Allen.'

Lester "L.W." Trout

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Now going by the monicker of "L.W.," Lester changed his name for business purposes as at age 16, he runs the counter at the Chicago-Alton depot, selling magazines and candy.  He used to belong to Russell's "Blue Light" Sunday School class.

Mis' Cutler

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A school teacher at the Urban School. She used to be Russell's teacher there and is now the teacher of Geraldine.

Geraldine

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She used to live in Mis' Harris' rooming house according to Sade, although no mention is made of her parents.  She might be an orphan.  She is probably younger than Russell and he knows her well.  They went to the same elementary school, apparently: the Urban School.  She has Mis' Cutler as a teacher, who is Russell's former teacher.

Archie McDuffer

Big, mean kid who almost instigated a fist fight between Smelly Clark and Blue Tooth Johnson.

Emmett Simonson

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A member of Russell's Sunday School class.  Let Russell borrow his box full of personal treasures.

Ed Fife

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Friend of Russell who went with him and the gang to the YMCA to watch the fat men play handball.

Mis' Funnelson

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Russell's physiology teacher at school.

Mis' Whippon

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Woman from Carberry that Russell talked to on the phone; she said she knew him when he was a baby.

William Hinkert

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Head of the Public Library Younger Boys Research Club at school.

Smelly Clark

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Real name is "Roger Willoughby Clark," although also seems to have the first name of "Albert."  Had plans to buy all kinds of explosives for July 4th, 1937 but was struck down by tonsilitis and eventually was to have surgery. The episode with him at the hospital shows that he's a tough individual.  Has given Rush an open invitation to be his best man when he marries and he plans on marrying several different ladies in his lifetime. Vic thinks he's sneaky and probably doesn't trust him.  Once stood up in front of the neighborhood gang and gave a narcissistic speech about himself.  Was struck in the head by a hammer from the telephone man who was up the telephone pole and did not cry until Eunice Raypole had gone down the street and turned the corner.  Wrote 24 letters to relatives and people he barely knew in hopes of getting additional Christmas presents. While Rush thinks Smelly is bright, Sade disagrees. His first date was with Lillie Speigel and he took her to see a Gloria Golden film. Was invited over to the Gook house to study algebra. His telephone number is #2457-J. Works at his uncle's barbershop every weekend in Towanda - and once, gave Rush an awful haircut. Saw Smoldering Teardrops (a Gloria Golden film) and thought it was rotten. He is older than Russell.  Has 2 gold teeth.  Shaves every 5th Sunday and carries his razor in his hip pocket.  Was a member of the "Blue Light Sunday School" class. Used to carry bags for the women down at the Union Depot.  His grandmother lives in Towanda.  Broke a watch he wasn't supposed to touch until he was 21 years old; Vic and Sade lent him the funds ($9.00) to get it fixed before his parents found out.  Had a fight with Rush in Sunday School.

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(((HEAR)))

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(((HEAR)))

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(((HEAR)))

Raymond Surrells

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Probably Russell Miller's best friend. Plays baseball at Tatman's vacant lot and stepped on Russell's face. Pointed out to Russell that he was bleeding after he slid into second base.

Oyster Krecker

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Real name is 'Joseph.'  One of Russell's very best friends.  Has a cousin named, 'Lombard.'  Showed off at school by limping. Takes violin lessons.  Was a member of the "Blue Light" Sunday School class.

Mis' Sutton

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English teacher at Russell's school.