Who is Frederick "Bootie" Tubb from The Emperor's Children and what is their importance?

Frederick "Bootie" Tubb is a young man in his mid-twenties, six feet tall, overweight, and wears glasses. He is unmarried, lives with his mother, and is unemployed. Bootie has recently left college because it did not live up to his expectations, and is embarking on a self-study program of education.