Jim Glass

Jim is about to celebrate his tenth birthday as the story opens. He lives with his mother, Elizabeth, known to family and friends as Cissy. His father died a week before his birth but Jim has grown up knowing all about his father and hearing stories of his father's life and death. Cissy's three brothers and Jim's uncles are Zeno, Al, and Coran, and they have devoted themselves to providing for Cissy and Jim. Jim is very conscious of his uncles' actions and pays close attention as they teach him about life and work. He wants to be like them and greatly fears letting them down. When Jim isn't able to keep up with the adult men in the field and tries to hide his mistake, he realizes he has disappointed his uncle and that worries him much more than the mistake. Jim is somewhat insecure at...