Meet Lucas Weems

Luke is our reluctant hero and the first character we meet. He's a janitor at the Greencastle High School. He's single. Runs a little 'farm'--(Produces just for himself) He's got a small flock of chickens, a pair of cows, and and a well-developed garden. A dog? It would make sense, I suppose. I just haven't yet decided the dog's personality, breed, etc. Actually, only one chapter has been written on Luke so far and his farmette isn't described. What we're told about him is that he's a janitor, he was raised Catholic, his mother, Helen Weems had a list of virtues she worked hard to teach her kids: Humility, cleanliness, patience, generosity, honor, courage, and tradition/family. In a nutshell, Luke's about as down-to-earth as you can get. He's very much a pragmatist. Likes to keep things simple.

He was engaged once. But Barb was killed... At the moment, I've got it down as a horrible car crash. But I wonder if I change the circumstances of his fiance's death if it could turn out a more complex or more desireable angle to Luke's character.
In the opening chapter, Luke's deer hunting and it makes mention of Barb and how she'd teased him about spending so much time in the woods. Does Luke trap? Possibly. Haven't decided yet. But for sure and for certain, Luke's an outdoorsman. He prefers the simplicity of nature.

I worry that he's too much like Jim. But only with certain things.(Raised Catholic, janitor day job, and his affinity for nature) There are a great number of things about Luke that are different. I know when Jim read Lunatic Lounge, he pointed out to me how much the main character Walter was like him. I apologiezed for it at the time, but Jim said he didn't mind, he was just teasing. If it inspires me to write, he said he'd make a recording of himself for me.(basically saying that whatvever gets me to put out a story, go for it.) He is my muse. Very much so.