Al Manheim

Al Manheim is a writer and the main character of the novel. The story is told through his voice and point of view. Al is born and raised in Middletown, Connecticut, and lives with his father who is a rabbi. When he father dies, he leaves Middletown and moves to New York with hopes of finding a job. Al is working at a New York newspaper called the Record as the theater columnist when he meets Sammy Glick. Al is someone Sammy continually describes as "the sweetest guy in the world" and since Sammy is the exact opposite, they are intrigued by one another.

At first Al is mostly annoyed and bitter about Sammy's attitude; he was only sixteen and has the crass cynicism of someone who has been around for much longer. Al attempts to take the young teen under his wing but Sammy has his...