Chet Roscow is the protagonist of the text. Numerous moves have shaped Chet’s young life as his father pursues one failed business venture after another. As a result, Chet struggles to feel like he belongs anywhere or feel a real sense of home because every home in his life has been temporary.

Because of his transient upbringing, Chet longs for connection and to feel like he belongs, but he lacks the confidence necessary to make friends. Chet forges a tenuous connection with three boys from school, but because of his lack of experience with friendships, he takes it personally when the boys play a prank on him. Rather than seeing it as an immature yet harmless prank, Chet views it as evidence of his inherent shortcomings: “How could he have thought these guys wanted to be his friends?” (31). Chet’s self-doubt intensifies after Chet’s retaliation prank backfires and the boys from school respond in anger.

Chet overcomes this self-doubt and anxiety with the help of his uncle and caregiver, Jerry. Uncle Jerry, whom Chet holds in high regard, teaches Chet that his anxieties about belonging are more universal than Chet thinks. Uncle Jerry expresses gratitude that Chet lives with him now because “I was lonely without you all these years” (50).