Bud, Not Buddy

Bud’s mother, Angela Janet Caldwell, is the daughter of Herman E. Calloway. She is characterized throughout the novel in photographs, nostalgic stories about her such as those Miss Thomas tells, and Bud’s memories of her actions and words. Momma told Bud bedtime stories with lessons often and repeatedly instructed him to not allow others to call him Buddy. She intended for Bud to be a strong and positive person as he grows up: “[…] no matter how dark the night, when one door closes, don’t worry, because another door opens” (43). She also intended to explain more about his life and family, but she passes away from unknown causes when Bud is six. He reveals that she was too sick to attend work for several days, and that she died at home in her bed. Bud insists she did not suffer. Once Bud is identified as Mr. Calloway’s grandson, Miss Thomas explains that Mr. Calloway wanted Angela to be a teacher and was generally very hard on her as she grew up. Miss Thomas and the rest of the band think Angela “ran off with one of Herman’s drummers” (224) and was not heard from again.

Mr. and Mrs. Amos are foster parents to Bud for a brief time. On Bud’s first night with them, their son Todd tries to shove a pencil up Bud’s nose in Bud’s sleep. When the boys fight, Mrs. Amos forces Bud to sleep in their shed, where he sustains cuts and hornet stings before escaping. His experiences at the Amos house convince Bud that running away from the orphan and foster care system has to be better than returning to the Home. The Amoses represent conflict for Bud and symbolize the pitfalls of the foster system. They are static characters who do not change their antagonistic behaviors.

Bud calls Bugs his “best friend.” Bugs got his name when a roach crawled into his ear one night at the Home; Bugs went to the hospital to have the roach removed. Bugs finds Bud at the library and suggests Bud come along with him to hop a train west for migrant work. Bud agrees and the two spend a night in Flint’s Hooverville. Bugs is successful in catching the train before dawn the next morning, but Bud is left behind. Bugs is a static character and an ally to Bud, as seen when throws Bud’s suitcase out the train to Bud, knowing how important the contents are to Bud.

Deza Malone is the girl close in age to Bud whom Bud and Bugs meet the night they spend in Flint’s Hooverville. After two helpings of muskrat stew, Bud and Bugs help with the camp’s dishes along with Deza and an unnamed white boy. Deza gets Bud talking about his family, including how his mother told him no boy was ever loved as much as she (his mother) loved him; Bud thinks of Deza, “Shucks, there are some folks who’ll have you running your mouth before you know what you’re doing” (72). Deza tells Bud he carries his family inside him, a sentiment he realizes is true once he finds a loving family with Mr. Calloway’s band. Deza lets Bud know that she would like him to kiss her, so Bud does.

Bud meets Mr. Lewis on the walk from Flint to Grand Rapids. Not far from Flint, in the limits of a town called Owosso, Mr. Lewis sees Bud walking along the road. Mr. Lewis stops his car and convinces Bud to come with him; Bud lies that he ran away from Grand Rapids, hoping Mr. Lewis will return him there. Bud briefly thinks that Mr. Lewis is a vampire because a case of human blood rests on the seat, but Bud learns that Mr. Lewis is just delivering it to a Flint hospital. Mr. Lewis takes Bud to sleep and have breakfast at his daughter’s house before taking him “home” to Grand Rapids. Mr. Lewis is a “redcap,” a porter with the railroad, and he is helping the Grand Rapids porters organize a union of their workers in the area. Mr. Lewis serves as a mentor as he supervises and teaches Bud in their time together.

Mr. Calloway Bud’s grandfather. He is father of Angela Janet Caldwell, Bud’s mother. The characters do not piece together that Bud is Mr. Calloway’s grandson until the last two chapters. Mr. Calloway is a talented bass violin player who leads his band to excellence and requires them to practice at least two hours a day. Through Miss Thomas’s story to Bud about Angela’s upbringing and running away, Mr. Calloway is indirectly characterized as proud and dedicated; he wanted his daughter to be a teacher. Mr. Calloway offers only short, blunt, and rude remarks to Bud, but his harsh exterior softens when he learns that Bud is Angela’s son and that Angela is dead. He weeps and tries to speak to Bud, perhaps even tries to apologize to him. Because of this change, Mr. Calloway is a dynamic character.

Bud meets Steady Eddie, a saxophone player, in the Log Cabin lounge when he arrives in Grand Rapids. Of all the band members, Steady Eddie soon becomes Bud’s favorite. Steady Eddie finds an old saxophone case for Bud to use instead of his tattered suitcase, and he presents Bud with a recorder to begin practicing music. Later, the band members find a small alto saxophone for Bud, and Steady Eddie gets it in working order for Bud, presenting him with a can of Brasso polish. He promises to teach Bud how to play.

Miss Grace Thomas is the singer in Mr. Calloway’s band. She shows concern for Bud right away at the Sweet Pea restaurant, noticing Bud’s stings and scrapes. She asks Bud questions about his father but allows that Bud is probably tired and says they will sort it out later. She soothes Bud when he becomes overwhelmed with emotion at dinner and cries. Later, when Bud reveals his rocks with dates, Miss Thomas knows he is Angela’s son. She tells Bud about his mother and asks for Bud’s patience as those who loved his momma like Mr. Calloway and herself adjust to the knowledge that she is gone for good.