Character sketch

Raymond

Raymond grew up in Baltimore Maryland. He was raised in a foster home with a brother who was these folks actual son. Raymond always got treated like the red headed stepchild of the family, and never felt like he was part of the family because he was adopted. Raymond’s foster mother Mary, father William, and brother Zach—all lived in an upper class home in a ritzy area of the city. Raymond’s rough childhood of neglect caused him to retreat into comic books, and fantasy worlds. He would imagine his waking life was a battleground and he was the representation of Thor on earth. Currently Raymond is 12 years old and still finds himself wandering his way into the comic book store everyday to read the comics on the used shelf, because he had no money to buy them. After reading, he takes to the streets to pretend he is Thor and searching for something out of the ordinary that he can conjure a mission out of. Raymond has no friends, due to his stunted maturity, and is a product of his psychological dismay endured throughout his life. Raymond wants friends, but he hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to see anyone outside of school, because his foster parents refuse to take him places.

Walter Shed

            Walter shed is a 60-year-old African American man, who lives in Baltimore Maryland. Walter is from Queen Annes county Maryland, but after his service in Viet Nam for the U.S. Army he moved to Baltimore to live in the city. Walter grew up out in the county and lived with his parents, and had no siblings. His parents are now deceased. Walter got married in 1980 and lived with his wife in the city. Walter never wanted to go to college. He thought that was for rich people, and he found peace and content working retail. He never had much money, but he always remained optimistic for his wife’s peace of mind. In 2005 his wife died of breast cancer. Walter never had any great friends as a child because everyone lived so far apart. As an adult the friendships he did have as a child fizzled out once he joined the Army. Walter has been working in a comic book store for 10 years now, and finds himself wrapped up in the monotony of the last 10 years of his life. He is now alone, a widower with no friends or family. He finds himself sitting on the bench outside his store everyday 2 hours before it opens to watch families across the street at the park, because it reminds him of the love he once had. Walter is still so sad when he is at home over the loss of his wife, that he tries to drown his sorrows in the bottle. Walter feels like he has no purpose, and is ready o meet his maker, and be with his wife again.