The Characters of Friendswood

       Friendswood introduces a scope of folky characters varying from different ages and situations but cross paths with one another as they become colloquial neighbors to their newly demolished home. Thus far, the main characters involve a child-ridden mother, a sobering father, and a young teen dealing with hallucinations.

       Lee, the main character who bears two chapter names, is a mother who lost her daughter as supported by the passage, "Jess [Lee's daughter] felt close and far away at the same time as if she were hiding somewhere...squares of grief building" (Steinke 30). She has also lost the security and beauty of her home due to an oil spill when "the sludge wriggled into rose gardens" following the insensitive response of the oil company of not acting (28). 

       Hal is a struggling house-salesman who has recently "said good riddance to the devil last year when he stopped drinking cold" (13). He refers to religion to escape moments of darkness, and ironically looks up to his son Cully, whom he takes great pride in. As for his business, he hopes that his high school friend, Avery, will join alliances with him since he is building homes in Rosemont, the location of Lee's wiped-out home. 

        Hal's son Cully is acquaintances with another one of the main characters named Willa. She is the teenage daughter of a conservative and religious father and struggles with hallucinations. For example, "she stared at the dead plant on the windowsill in her room, until one of the stalks kicked into a leg and started walking out of the pot" (21). A connection is also found between Willa and Lee as it is discovered that Lee and Willa's mother were once great friends, and now have stopped talking since "whatever had happened between Lee and her mother must have been catastrophic" (24).