Who is Dickie from Running from Safety: An Adventure of the Spirit and what is their importance?

Dickie is nine-year-old Richard. He is a wise child who sometimes comes across as a child trapped in an adult's body. He wants to know what life is about. Dickie is furious at Richard for neglecting him and locking him away for 50 years but, with only a few contentious moments, seems more eager to learn than hold a grudge.