On any summer Monday evening, if you visit the Smiths you will most certainly find them at home.
The Smiths live in a big Queen Anne style Victorian home (with turrets!) on Elm Street, near the corner of Fourteenth. On summer evenings after dark, when it gets cooler outside, they like to sit in the living room and read, while listening to music.
Roderick Smith is sixteen. Actually, it's Roderick Smith IV, but everyone just calls him Roderick; they call his dad "Rod". Roderick is almost as tall as his dad; he has dark brown hair, slightly touseled. He is in many respects unexceptional: hard-working and studious, but not brilliant; well-mannered and kind, but not gregarious; nice-looking and neat, but not handsome. A true Cancer, Roderick is magnetic; the girls of his class are attracted to him by an unexplainable chemistry.
In school, Roderick likes Latin, English, History and Civics; he manages to get by in Math and Science, but he can't imagine pursuing a science career. He hasn't decided what he wants to do for a living -- he is, after all, just sixteen -- but if forced to choose something Roderick will tell you he wants to do what his dad does, help people manage their money.
On a summer Monday evening, you will usually find Roderick curled on the living room floor with a history book.
Roderick's dad, Roderick Smith III, grew up in Beauneville, went to Old Ivy College, then worked in finance for a time before setting up his own money management business. By nature conservative, Mr. Smith relates well with his clients, who want to be reassured that their investments are safe. You might say that Mr. Smith does not practice conservative portfolio management; he lives conservative portfolio management, with real devotion to thrift and modest goal setting.
On a summer Monday evening, you will usually find Mr. Smith sitting in the leather armchair in the living room, reading about asset pricing models.
Emily Thompson Smith grew up in Stapleton. She attended Old Ivy College, where she met Mr. Smith; the married and graduated the same month. Mrs. Smith is a technical writer, and she has her own freelance writing business which she runs out of a spare room on the second floor. She's quite good at technical writing and never wants for business. Since Roderick is older and fairly self-sufficient, she spends most of her time with her business.
On a summer Monday evening, you will usually find Mrs. Smith sitting on the couch reading a bodice-ripper.
Let's not forget the animals, of which there are several in the Smith home.
Shaggy and Chauncy are noble and aristocratic cats; they reign but do not rule. Shaggy, who has ruffly orange fur, is the product of a brief encounter between one of Dorabella's silken felines and a local Tom. Chauncy's precise origins are unknown; Roderick rescued him one day at the Red Trolley Diner, where his previous caretakers had abandoned him while passing through town.
Laddie used to be a puppy, but now he is remarkably transformed into a dog. His parentage is known; Laddie's dad and mom live in a doghouse out back that is a close replica of the main house (with turrets!). His ultimate breeding is inexact, however; he appears to be a mix of Lab and collie. Not that anyone cares.
Laddie is a clever dog, who always seems to know where Roderick is. He does tricks, comes when called, and makes it his business to be friendly with all of the denizens of Beauneville.
Knuckles is also a clever dog, who mostly just sleeps.
On a summer Monday evening you will usually find Knuckles snoozing in his little dog bed in the pantry; and you will find Laddie curled on the floor near Roderick.
But you won't find Chauncy and Shaggy, as they generally follow the beat of their own drummers. If you are lucky, though, they will find you.
