Major Characters in Thunder and Lightning...

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Thunder and Lightning employs 87 characters, the highest number yet in the Little J and Roger series. Happily, most are incidental—but the number is one indication that this volume is packed with more action and adventure than ever. The twenty-two mentioned here are the most important.

If you have been following the story from the beginning, you will have no problem sorting out what is going on. But if you are new, you may well need a little help. This page is provided for that purpose.

All the main characters have been major players already. This book continues where the last one left off in both time and action, and in character growth.

The theme of love remains dominant, but the environment at Camp Walker is becoming more of a challenge.

The number after the name tells in how many chapters each character appears in this book.
New characters are marked with an * asterisk.

The Lovers: These are couples; their romances began at this camp and are in the process of maturing.

Julian 20, Mark 20 || Nick 16, Tom 17 || Robin 4, Jack 2.

Joining this group: Kurt 9, Sid 8.

The Hunters: These are individuals who seek what the above group has found. They are very hungry:

Geoff 18 || Danny 14 || *Clint 6.

In the crosshairs: Mark 20 || Leonard 14 || Alex 5

The Action Pool: These individuals don’t fit so neatly into a grouping. They come into play for a variety of reasons, all very necessary to telling the story. They are mentioned here because they are important enough to be singled out. Some will be important in the next book as well.

Tony 5 || Alex 5 || Justin 5 || Andy 4 || Doug 3

The Camp Staff: In the previous books, staff members were minor figures, primarily. In Part 4 they are more visible and connected to important action elements:

Jorgensen 7 || *Sarge 7 || *Russell 5 || *Taylor 4 || *Harold 4

The grouping above is a simplified framework to show various characters’ place in the scheme of things. These individuals are described in detail below. The descriptions are taken directly from the Thunder and Lightning index.

A major feature of the index is to provide a summary of what happened to each character in the previous three books. That is followed by a list of exact locations where they are found in Part 4. The number of chapter and page entries is one measure of their importance to the story, but not a precise one. Some very important characters appear in only one or two places.

Alex Trent: Star scout, member of the Lynx patrol. Son of a Major in the Marine Corps, highly principled and ambitious. On the first day of camp, shows Julian how to use the camp wash station. Estranged from his father for reasons he doesn’t understand. Unschooled about sexual matters, masturbates in the latrine when he gets too horny. Helps Tenderfoot Sandy write his first letter home. [15 129-30 || 17 154-61 || 19 179-80, 184-90 || 29 237-8 || 32 245-9]

Andy Ashbaugh: Life scout in the Tiger patrol. Close friend of Tony, and an assistant in Freddy’s Shooting Gallery. Would like to have more fun with Tom. He and Tony ambush Tom on Friday and learn how to do a three-way. After the first Gallery contest, joins with Tony and contestant 12 in a 3-way. [10 95-102 || 13 119 || 15 140-2 || 24 210-214]

Clint Walker: 2nd Class scout in the Zebra patrol. [15 129 || 16 181, 143 || 17 154-61 || 19 179-80, 185-9 || 29 238 || 32 245-9]

Danny Laskey: Star scout, newly appointed Senior Patrol Leader of Troop Nine. He bypassed several able scouts because Scoutmaster Mark sees him as the best potential leader to become Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He has had a crush on Julian for a little more than a year. Though he lives across the fence, he and Julian have only had a nodding acquaintance prior to this camp. He is assigned to supervise Julian in the daily breakfast and camp inspections, and makes his first attempt to seduce Julian. Afterwards, he gets sunburned at the lake. Drops Backpacking and is assigned with Geoff to help the Quartermaster supply perishables to the camps. Learns some advanced lovemaking techniques from Geoff. He entices Julian to experiment and learn some of Geoff’s techniques. Promoted to lead the troop to the Sunday service. [3 26-7, 30-31 || 7 70-74 || 12 111 || 13 118 || 14 127-8 || 15 133, 138-9 || 18 162-64 || 19 178 || 20 190-4 || 22 204 || 25 217 || 27 229 || 31 241 || 32 249-52]

Doug Tucker: one of the stopwatch duo. A First Class scout in the Panther patrol; he was introduced to sexual activity two years ago one day after school by Tom. He is self-indulgent and not interested in serving anyone else’s needs. His member is large and bends downward. On Wednesday Julian sees him and Paul through Sid’s snorkel. [12 106 || 21 196-203 || 25 215-6]

Fred Russell: Camp Walker Program Director. [6 52 || 17 154-6 || 19 180, 184-5 || 25 217 || 29 235-8]

Geoff Staples: Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 419, Atlanta. Life scout, recently from Burbank, California. English/Cambodian descent, poker club member, sophisticated and experienced. He dropped out of Backpacking with Danny and was assigned to help the Quartermaster supply camps with perishables. Tutored both Danny and Nick in sexual techniques. Respects Nick’s intellect and tells Nick about his first love, a wealthy surfer in California. On Saturday flirts with Leonard and decides to make him his next sexual target; on Sunday sees Mark, who resembles his first love, and determines to waylay and seduce him. Leonard is put on hold. [2 15-24 || 3 26-31, 35 || 5 41 || 6 53-69 || 7 70-73 || 9 89-91 || 11 103-5 || 14 127-8 || 15 133, 138-9 || 19 172-5, 181-2 || 21 202 || 22 204-7 || 24 210, 211-13 || 25 218-25 || 26 226 || 29 236 || 30 239-40 || 32 250, 252-3]

Harold Symonds: Camp Walker Medical Officer. [25 219-25 || 29 236 || 30 239 || 32 253]

Jack Haley: Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 152, Atlanta. Eagle scout, recruited by Geoff to join Brian’s private poker game. On Wednesday, he and Robin were matched in the second poker game; they have been obsessed with each other since. They met the next day and found a private place to meet along the east lakeshore. Jack names it Whispering Oaks. It becomes their regular destination during the free periods. On Sunday night he meets Robin at the lake for a sunrise vigil. [1 4-14 || 11 104-5]

John Jorgensen: Director of Camp Walker. [3 27, 31-35 || 6 55-7 || 15 134 || 18 169 || 25 215-8, 220-5 || 26 227 || 28 231 || 29 234-8]

Julian Forrest: First Class scout, main protagonist. Unaware that he has inherited extraordinary artistic talent from his father, a Greenwich Village sculptor whom he has never known. His five year crush on Mark has blossomed into a full active—though secret—romance. He has been staying in the scoutmaster’s cabin since the first day of camp. His talent for acting comes to the fore the next day when he takes part in the lifesaving class. He learns to experiment in sexplay with other scouts, his goal being to serve Mark better. First Danny, then Sid give him a chance to practice. He works hard to improve his swimming and drawing ability. Discovers the Tom and Nick relationship and determines to aid and support it. Conceives the plan to secure mattresses and devises a private entrance to their tent. Geoff and Danny assist. [4 36-7 || 7 70-75 || 8 76-86 || 9 91-94 || 12 106-17 || 13 120 || 14 127 || 15 134-6, 139 || 16 144-8, 151-3 || 18 162-9 || 19 176-7, 182-3 || 20 190-4 || 21 195-203 || 22 204 || 23 209 || 25 215-25 || 26 226-7 || 28 231-3 || 31 241-4 || 32 250, 253-5]

Justin Blake: First Class scout in the Zebra patrol. Julian’s protégé and Forestry Buddy. Justin is extremely shy and intimidated by crowded situations. In part 2 he and Julian witness an advanced sexual activity in the forest. He is present when Julian tells about the snorkel. He joins in the group activity, though he isn’t sure about it. On Sunday Mark discovers he is lonely and homesick; Mark makes arrangements with Leonard to assist. [15 134 || 16 143-52 || 18 163 || 23 208-9 || 28 232-3]

Kurt Davis: Star scout in the Zebra patrol. Enrolled in a private gym program to develop defensive capability. He had been forced to have sex by Tom one day after school when he was an 8th grader. On Friday he hears Julian and Sid describe what they saw through the snorkel between Doug and Paul. He is the oldest in the group and teaches them how a circle jerk works. Later that day he corners Sid and takes him for a canoe ride so that Sid can demonstrate in person. The encounter is the beginning of a personal relationship. On Sunday, he is surprised by Tom’s offer to make amends for what he did in the woods over a year ago. [4 38 || 5 40-51 || 12 107-17 || 13 118-26 || 15 132, 135 || 18 163 || 21 196 || 25 218 || 28 231]

Leonard Stafford: Waterfront Director at Camp Walker. Has an uncanny ability to remember names and faces. Enjoys keeping track of camp romances. Develops a Platonic fondness for Julian. Leonard proves to be completely vulnerable to Geoff’s flirtation. He is inexperienced and unpracticed in the amorous arts, and Geoff has a field day behind his table at the lake. Luckily, it is all verbal. [2 15-6 || 3 26 || 4 37-8 || 10 96 || 12 107, 110-12 || 13 118-9 || 15 130-2, 136, 139 || 16 142-48, 151-3 || 18 163 || 24 210, 213 || 25 216 || 27 230 || 28 231-3 || 31 241]

Mark Schaefer: Scoutmaster of Troop 9. Major protagonist. He is a retail purchasing agent and manager. When he was a senior in college, he was asked to replace his former scoutmaster who died suddenly from a heart attack. After a year of denial, succumbs to Julian’s relentless amorous pursuit on the first night at Camp Walker. He decides to permit Julian’s advances by inviting him to stay in the cabin. He has never taken such a risk before. In Part 2 he was appointed to coach a water polo team. His skill as a leader is apparent and the cause of envy by the other scoutmasters. In order to help his Assistant Scoutmaster save face, he installed an official farting post. On Friday he tells Julian about his only previous love partner, Erik. On Saturday he does his first formal pose for Julian. He is unaware that his personal demeanor is changed because of the romance, making him attractive to several of the older boys. [2 15-19 || 3 26-35 || 6 52-69 || 7 70-75 || 8 76-86 || 9 89-94 || 11 103-5 || 12 106, 113, 117 || 14 127-8 || 15 133, 135 || 18 162-9 || 19 175-7, 182-3 || 20 190-4 || 22 204 || 24 210 || 25 217 || 27 228-30 || 29 234 || 31 241-4 || 32 250-5]

Nick Harrison: Secondary protagonist, a Life scout. Troop Scribe, member of the Flaming Arrow patrol. Appointed to mentor Julian as a troop journalist. His three year crush on Tom flowered unexpectedly at the beginning of camp; he and Tom have begun to sleep together in the troop supply tent. Earns his Lifesaving rating and coaches Julian in swimming. Is befriended by Geoff. Confides in Julian about his romance and is surprised by how knowing and sympathetic Julian is. After Julian secures the pillows, Tom’s lovemaking takes on a new dimension. He and Tom throw a special party for Julian on Sunday morning. [2 15-25 || 5 40-51 || 7 70-72 || 10 95-102 || 12 106-8 || 13 119-26 || 15 130-1, 135-8, 139-42 || 16 142, 147-52 || 18 163-4 || 19 178-9, 182-3 || 20 190-4 || 22 204 || 24 210-4 || 25 217 || 27 228 || 32 250]

Robin Simmons: Life scout in the Lynx patrol. Close friend of Casey’s. Met Jack at the poker game on Wednesday, and they have become intense lovers. He is a skilled boatman, and takes Jack on a magical ride along the east shore where they finish what they had started after the poker game. On Sunday night sneaks out of camp to spend the night with Jack at their private space they call Whispering Oaks. [1 4-14 || 10 95-98 || 11 104-5 || 18 163]

Sarge Oliver: Camp Ranger/Quartermaster; retired Marine. He is assigned to supervise Danny and Geoff as camp supply crew members after they drop the Backpacking merit badge class. [3 31 || 25 224-5 || 26 226-7 || 29 234 || 30 239-40 || 31 241-2 || 32 250]

Scoutmaster Taylor: Scoutmaster of Troop 2; teaches Backpacking/Climbing merit badges. [15 129 || 17 154-61 || 19 180, 184-6 || 29 235-7]

Sid Thomas: First Class scout in the Wolf patrol. Julian’s friend from school and Cub Scouts. He is known for his prankster sense of humor and his extremely skinny physique. His mother bought him a new turquoise air mattress for camp. In Part 2 his snorkel became an unexpected enabler when Julian borrowed it to investigate Doug and Paul’s underwater activity. Their friendship becomes more personal as a result. He and Kurt became involved in a relationship on Friday thanks to the snorkel. [4 37-9 || 5 40, 46, 50 || 12 106-17 || 13 118-26 || 15 132, 136 || 18 169 || 21 195-6 || 28 232]

Tom Dawson: Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop Nine and Eagle scout. Secondary protagonist, relies heavily on the analytic ability of Nick, his lover. He helps Julian at the first free swim at the lake as a ploy. But his plan to seduce Julian gets derailed by Nick. His whole sexual world gets turned upside down when he allows Nick to show him a new way to make love. Recruited into the Poker Club the next day. Outstanding leadership ability, his fetish for fresh adolescent backsides is quenched by the discovery that he is in love with Nick. He makes the decision to commandeer the troop supply tent to serve as a bedroom for himself and Nick for the remaining days at camp. Chosen to captain Mark’s water polo team. A star swimmer and football player. Vows to make amends for his previous sexual exploits, and offers Kurt a chance to get even. [2 15-16, 24 || 5 40-51 || 6 52-3, 61 || 7 70-4 || 10 95-101 || 12 106 || 13 118-26 || 14 127-8 || 15 130-2 , 136-8, 139-42|| 16 143, 148-52 || 18 162-4 || 19 178-9, 182-3 || 20 190-4 || 22 204 || 24 211-2 || 25 217 || 32 250-2]

Tony Johnson: First Class scout in the Tiger patrol. Talented, comical, and usually in need of points. He tends to annoy his patrol leader, and is frequently penalized for simple infractions and oversights. He is the troop’s most talented actor and clown. Delights the contestants in Freddy’s Shooting Gallery by lampooning Howard Cosell covering the event for TV. [10 99-102 || 13 119 || 15 133, 139 || 22 207 || 24 210-13]

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