Left Neglected

Bob Nickerson is Sarah’s husband. He works 80-hour weeks at his job with an information technology start-up company. Bob is kind and humorous, though a Type-A competitive person like Sarah. Their relationship began with competitions, who would get the best grade in the class where they met, who would get the best-paying job after they graduated. Bob is a hands-on father to the best of his ability due to his work schedule. He helps the children dress, ready for bed in the evenings, and attends soccer games and class meetings whenever he can manage it.

After Sarah’s accident, Bob finds himself solely in charge of the household. He finds it necessary to ask Sarah’s mother to stay with them to help, despite Sarah’s objections. Bob feels immense pressure due to Charlie’s ADHD testing, Sarah’s rehabilitation, and continuing layoffs at his company. Bob also suffers the financial pressure of trying to maintain his family’s lifestyle after Sarah’s loss of income. He is incredulous and angry when Sarah decides to turn down the offer for her to return to her old job, feeling that she should try going back so that they can return to increased financial security.

Bob is skeptical about Sarah’s plan for their family’s move to Vermont. He does not want to leave the upscale, ambitious life they have in suburban Boston and he does not want to give up his fight to save his company. In the end, Bob finds a job with a company in Montpelier and he realizes that Sarah was right to bring them to a slower-paced way of life.

Helen is Sarah’s mother. Her last name isn’t mentioned in the story. She lives alone on Cape Cod, where Sarah grew up, and rarely leaves her home. When she learns of Sarah’s accident from Bob, Helen comes to be by Sarah’s side. The sight of Sarah’s injuries greatly affect her, afraid that Sarah is dying. Despite Sarah’s barely suppressed anger and dismissive nature towards her, Helen is determined to stay and help with her recovery. She helps care for her grandchildren. Driving to be with Sarah during the day at the rehabilitation center goes beyond her comfort zone, as she is uncomfortable driving in Boston traffic, but she manages because of her determination to be of help to Sarah.

Helen reveals to Sarah that she has been taking antidepressants for three years and that she wishes that she had started them many years ago. After she began taking medication, Helen began living life again, rather than wishing that she would die, as she had ever since her son Nate died. Because of her newfound relief, Helen began spending time with friends and joined the Red Hat Society. Helen expresses her regret and sorrow to Sarah, that she was not there for her when she was younger. She’s relieved when Sarah forgives her.

Helen conceals her other health issues from Sarah, so it surprises Sarah when she comes home to find that Helen has passed away in her sleep. Helen dies while continuing to do what she had come back into Sarah’s life to do: caring for her family.

Charlie is Sarah and Bob’s seven-year-old son. He is in first grade at Welmont Elementary School. Because of his parents’ work schedule, he attends the Before the Bells program at his school, prior to the regular school day. Charlie is smart, impetuous, a normal kid in many ways. But his parents and teacher worry at the beginning of the story about his poor academic performance and inability to follow directions. Charlie plays on a soccer team but cannot concentrate on the flow of the game and thus does not participate.

Later in the story, Charlie gets diagnosed with ADHD and his parents and teacher begin a structured diet and behavioral intervention process. He begins taking Concerta, which his family calls his “vitamins” so that he will not think that he is sick or disabled. Charlie suffers from bullying in his classroom because he has clear behavioral differences. He tries to act more like the other kids in order to prevent bullying. By the end of the story, Charlie is much happier with his family’s new life in Vermont, as he can snowboard regularly. Charlie excels at snowboarding, which gives him a sense of accomplishment and a way to be part of a group.

Lucy is Sarah and Bob’s five-year-old daughter. She is in kindergarten at Welmont Elementary and also attends the Before the Bells program. Lucy is bright and lively, with a flair all her own. She is a rules-follower and appears to rely heavily on her mother’s attention. Lucy adapts well to the family’s move to Vermont and immediately makes friends. Linus is Sarah and Bob’s nine-month-old baby. He goes to daycare when not in the care of the family’s nanny, Abby. Linus is happy to see his mother in the rehabilitation center for the first time, but it does not seem that her absence was particularly difficult for him. Linus learns to walk around the same time Sarah retrains herself to walk with a cane.