Okay for Now

Doug’s father is an alcoholic liar who is physically and mentally abusive. He complains constantly, refuses to support his family, and uses all his energy to cause lasting harm to others. He and his friend, Ernie, work collectively to degrade his wife and children. Only in the last few pages of the book does he admit to his wrongdoings and attempt to reconcile with the family he has abused for so long. 

Lucas is Doug’s oldest sibling. He was abusive towards Doug growing up. At the opening of the narrative, he is fighting in Vietnam and absent from the action, but eventually he comes home, temporarily blind and permanently in a wheelchair. The war and his injuries have only supersized his bitterness, and his attitude is often resentful. His pessimism begins to weigh on the entire Swieteck clan until Doug tells him he needs to try harder, which points to Doug’s own character growth. The fight that then ensues between Doug and Lucas leads to Lucas being more open-minded and more optimistic. After weeks of being discriminated against for his disability, he finds work as the Assistant Coach at Doug’s high school. Once he begins his new career, he is much gentler and more considerate of his family. 

Ernie is the alcoholic and insensitive “jerk” Doug’s father is friends with (9). They are constant companions, though it’s clear that Ernie is a liar and a thief. Ernie often goes out of his way to pick on Doug. He never changes throughout the book; he remains cruel no matter the circumstance and acts as one of the novel’s primary villains. 

Doug’s mother is an incredibly patient woman with a beautiful smile. She is kind, maternal, and frequently abused by Doug’s father. She loves all her children dearly, but she does little to try to protect them from her father’s wrath. A weaker character, she is often the victim in the novel, and all of her sons worry over her safety and happiness. She is a foil for Lil, Doug’s love interest, who is blunt and opinionated. 

For most of the narrative, Mrs. Merriman is an unpleasant, judgmental crone working at the Marysville library. She is annoyed by Doug’s presence in the library and does not approve of the time Mr. Powell spends giving Doug drawing lessons. When she meets Lucas, however, it becomes clear that she is miserable because she lost the person that she cared about most in the war. She serves to point out a prominent theme in the novel, that a person’s behavior often stems from their struggles. 

Mr. Powell is a jovial, unkempt old man who works at the Marysville library. He is wise and offers his time, smarts, and passion to Doug in an effort to help Doug lead a more satisfying life. He teaches Doug to draw and helps Lil with her studies as well. His is the first kindness that Doug experiences in Marysville, and it’s returning this kindness (by retrieving the Audubon pieces) that catalyzes many of Doug’s actions in the novel. 

Lil is a tomboy who loves to bike, read, and tease Doug. Her unwillingness to be duped by Doug makes her attractive to him. She is a hard worker and a good friend and impressing her often serves as an inspiration for Doug throughout the novel. She ends up physically ill at the end of the narrative, and her fate is uncertain.

For the first half of the novel, Doug’s second oldest brother is depicted as a bully and is often referred to as a “criminal” (58). He is a liar who pretends that a scar he got from a fence is from a knife fight. He also steals Doug’s prized possessions. At one point, Doug describes him as “guilty as sin” (96). Several influences combine, however, to set Christopher on a more positive path. The moment he witnesses Doug stand up to their father, the return of Lucas, and his eventual vindication, all lead Chris to becoming a more compassionate and caring soul. 

Mrs. Windermere is an eccentric old playwright living lavishly in Marysville, NY. She is selfish and rude, and though these traits never change, it is clear from her affection for Doug and her grief over her lost husband that she has a soft side. 

Mr. Ferris is the empathetic and brilliant science teacher at Doug’s junior high. He often goes out of his way to make Doug feel understood and to make all his students feel encouraged. He acts as part of Doug’s support system throughout the novel.