No Promises in The Wind - Characters

Characters

Main Characters:

• Josh Grondowski, a 15 year-old boy, is the main character of this novel. He sets off from his family to find his own living after being angered by his father. He is accompanied by Joey, his brother, and Howie, his best friend. He can usually warm up to people.
• Joey Grondowski, the 10 year-old younger brother of Josh, whose singing helped them to survive.He is usually very trusting.
• Howie, Josh's friend and a talented musician at the banjo, who is killed while trying to board a moving freight train after he fell they left him behind. Was always full of laughter. Also had troubles with his alcoholic mother in Chicago.
• Stefan Grondowski, Josh's father, who starts at the beginning of the book as a man struck by the Great Depression and becomes extremely stressed and angry. Also the reason that Josh left home.
• Mary Grondowski, Josh's mother, who agrees with Josh's decision to leave Chicago.
• Kitty Grondowski, Josh's half-sister, who struggles to locate a job in the beginning of the book.
• Lon (Lonnie) Bromer, a truck driver who offers hospitality to Josh towards the end of the book and helps Josh to get a job in Baton Rouge at a circus. Helped Josh get well after he caught a violent illness.
• Pete Harris, a man who employs Josh at the carnival he owns. He is to marry Josh's first love, Emily. Harris is Bessie's cousin. Not attractive, very stumpy, chubby and short.
• Edward C. Kensington, a dwarf man who befriends Josh. Thoughtful and nice. Helps out Emily with her children a lot. Polite and respectful.
• Emily, (Bongo); a clown at the carnival Josh falls in love with. Uses a male name when she is working. She has three boys and her real husband died a while back. She's about to marry Pete Harris. Josh is very upset about that.
• Janey, Lonnie's niece, who falls in love with Josh.
• Mrs. Arthur, who adopts Joey for a short time before Lonnie reunites Joey with Josh, she also helps to get Josh and Joey a job at a restaurant.
• Mr. Ericsson, who employs the two as entertainers at his restaurant.

A list of minor characters:

• Elizabeta, Stefan's deceased wife who was the mother of Kitty
• Ben and Josie, two poor farmers who help to cook a rooster and provide a meal for Josh and Joey.
• Betsy, a pretty girl who causes Josh to feel ashamed at his begging when he comes to her door for food.
• Bessie, a waitress who listens to Josh play the piano while they are headed for Louisiana. Bessie is also Pete Harris's cousin who helps Josh get a job at Pete's carnival.
• Florinda, an old dancer with "lumpy legs" who spreads gossip around the circus. She doesn't think about others feelings before she says anything. Is the most worried when the circus burns down. Gets upset when Josh calls her "Ma'am." Says it makes her feel old.
• Charley, a rich mobster, approximately 20 years old. Drives Josh and Joey towards Nebraska in his Cadillac. Treats the boys to dinner. Became rich from selling alcohol during the Prohibition.
• Alf, a poor owner of a shoe store where Josh purchases boots for Joey. Josh pays with a 20 dollar bill, and the man takes the bill and, threatening the boys not to call foul on him, keeps the bill without giving the boys change.
• Blegan,A dwarf who also made rude remarks. Has a reputation of being annoying. Talks about people behind their backs. Inconsiderate and selfish. Does not have many friends at the carnival.Tends to fight with his (fellow dwarf) wife often.
• Miss Crowne, Josh and Howie's music teacher, who believe they had great talent, and inspired them to use their talent.