Mr. August Paul Bowles-Fitzpatrick, referred to simply as “the Butler,” is the novel’s primary mentor figure and deuteragonist. A static yet round character, he arrives unexpectedly at the Jones’s chaotic household as an agent of order, tradition, and moral guidance. He is bequeathed to the family by Carter’s late grandfather, and he asks to be identified as a “gentleman’s gentleman,” a role he fulfills by guiding Carter toward maturity. The Butler’s personality is defined by his unyieldingly formal demeanor, his precise and eloquent use of the “Queen’s English,” and his deep-seated belief in decorum and duty. This formality is often a source of humor and friction, particularly in his early interactions with the decidedly informal Carter. However, beneath his starchy exterior lies a deep well of empathy, wisdom, and unwavering loyalty to the family he has come to serve.

The Butler’s methods are unconventional but effective. He introduces structure into the family’s life by steadfastly modeling behavior and creating new routines, from serving tea to insisting on proper table manners. His most significant contribution is the introduction of cricket, a sport that functions as the central metaphor for life’s rules, challenges, and the necessity of teamwork. Through cricket, he teaches Carter and his peers about discipline, sportsmanship, and the importance of “keeping the bails up” (126), a phrase that signifies maintaining one’s integrity in the face of adversity. He is the direct voice for the theme of The Power of Paying Attention, framing it as the essential quality of a gentleman. He asserts that attentiveness to others, whether in a game or in family life, is the foundation of an honorable existence. His quiet orchestration of events, such as bringing Carson Krebs into Carter’s orbit or arranging for the cricket match, demonstrates his shrewd understanding of what the children, and the community, truly need.

While the Butler’s core principles and personality remain constant, his character is rounded by his capacity for deep affection. He is not merely an employee but a dedicated guardian who has chosen this post out of a sense of honor and, eventually, love. He becomes a surrogate father figure, providing the stability and guidance that Captain Jones has abdicated. This is most poignantly revealed when he travels to Germany to confront Captain Jones on his behavior and then returns, telling Carter, “you are my home” (212). His presence is the catalyst for the family’s healing, allowing them to navigate their grief and ultimately form a new, stronger unit, facilitating the story’s exploration of Redefining Family and Community.

Carter’s mother, Carolyn Jones, is a round character who embodies the struggle of Navigating Grief and Abandonment. When the story begins, she is nearly incapacitated by sorrow and stress, overwhelmed by the responsibilities of raising four children alone, the death of her son Currier, and the emotional void left by her husband’s deployment. Her grief is often silent but palpable, shown in quiet moments of despair, such as when Carter finds her holding Currier’s teddy bear after learning that her husband that her husband has left her for another family. Her initial acceptance of the Butler into her home is a reluctant admission that she needs support.

As the Butler’s stabilizing presence takes hold, Mrs. Jones begins a slow but steady journey of recovery. Though she remains a secondary figure to Carter’s development, her path is one of reclaiming agency. The Butler’s support frees her from the immediate pressures of household management, allowing her the emotional space to begin processing her grief and her husband’s betrayal. Her reengagement with the community, specifically by taking on accounting work at her former church, St. Michael’s, is a significant turning point. It signifies her decision to move forward and rebuild a life for herself and her children outside the shadow of her husband. By the end of the novel, she is no longer a passive victim of her circumstances but an active participant in the creation of her new family, traveling to Italy with her children and the Butler, a complete and resilient unit.

Captain Jackson Jonathan Jones, Carter’s father, functions as the story’s primary antagonist, though he is physically absent for the entire narrative. He is a round and dynamic character whose presence is felt through Carter’s memories, which gradually reveal a father who struggles to connect with his son or acknowledge their shared grief over Currier’s death. In Carter’s memories of their trip to the Blue Mountains of Australia, a key symbol of their fractured relationship, he often appears eager to connect but lacks the language to do so. He calls his son’s attention to various instances of beauty in the landscape, as if hoping that simply seeing the same things could be enough to bring them together. At other times, he dismisses Carter’s attempts to talk and is unable to offer comfort, instead retreating into his own world. When he thoughtlessly sweeps away the small fire Carter has painstakingly built, the act epitomizes his lack of consideration for his son’s feelings.

His ultimate act of betrayal is his decision to abandon his family for a new life in Germany, which he communicates via a cold and impersonal email. This act is the central “googly”—a cricket term for a tricky bowling technique designed to deceive the batter, analogous to the baseball-derived expression “a curveball”—the unexpected and destructive turn that forces the family to confront the finality of their situation. He becomes a symbol of failed duty and abdicated responsibility, a stark contrast to the Butler’s steadfast loyalty. Carter’s destruction of his father’s military mementos represents the necessary shattering of the idealized image of his father, an important step in Carter’s ability to heal and move forward. Captain Jones’s character is a catalyst, forcing the family to redefine itself in his absence and find strength and stability without him.

Carson Krebs is a significant minor character who is a peer mentor and foil to Carter. As an eighth-grader and the captain of the cross-country team, he initially seems to exist in a different social sphere from sixth-grader Carter. However, the formation of the cricket team brings them together, revealing Carson to be mature, disciplined, and empathetic. Having experienced his own family trauma with his mother’s departure, Carson possesses a wisdom beyond his years. He recognizes Carter’s pain and intentionally bridges the social gap to offer friendship and support.

Carson acts as a secondary mentor in the world of cricket, reinforcing the Butler’s lessons about the seriousness of the game and the importance of paying attention. His quiet encouragement and practical advice help Carter gain confidence both on and off the pitch. His key conversation with Carter about his own family’s struggles provides Carter with an important realization: He is not alone in his experience of abandonment. Carson shows a model of resilience, demonstrating that it is possible to navigate deep loss and emerge as a responsible and compassionate person. His friendship with Carter is a key element in the theme of Redefining Family and Community, showing how new bonds can form to provide support where traditional structures have failed.

Annie, Charlie, and Emily Jones are minor, flat characters who function collectively as a representation of the family’s daily needs and emotional state. Their presence and distinct personalities create the chaotic environment that emphasizes the family’s need for the stability the Butler provides. Emily, the youngest, is innocent and direct, often voicing the family’s sadness through simple, unfiltered questions. Charlie is highly emotional, her happiness marked by loud, high-pitched screams and her sadness by dramatic wails. Annie, the oldest sister, is on the cusp of adolescence, displaying a growing maturity and perceptiveness, as seen when she directly confronts Carter about their father’s absence.

For Carter, his sisters are a central part of his journey toward becoming a “gentleman.” The Butler’s instructions for Carter to attend to their needs—supporting Annie at her robotics open house, chaperoning the younger girls to the ballet, or simply walking Ned so his sisters do not have to—are practical lessons in empathy and responsibility. They force him to step outside of his own grief and become an active, caring participant in their lives. The scene where all the siblings and their mother cry together on the couch after the truth about their father is revealed is an important moment of shared vulnerability and solidifies their bond as a family unit determined to support one another.