Writer’s Shop Talk: Jim’s Backstory (The Teen Years Before ‘Reunion: A Story’)

Jot down the backstory of your hero – what made him the way he is? What about him can and should change? What can’t?

Since Jim Garraty’s character develops between the Present Day sections of Reunion: A Story (February 1998) and Reunion: Coda (February 2000), we will focus on “teenage Jim” as introduced in the early chapters of Reunion: Coda, set between January 1981 and April 1983, before the South Miami High School events depicted in Reunion.

James Kevin Garraty was born at Fort Stewart’s military hospital in February 1965 to Lieutenant Kevin Michael Garraty and Sarah Moore Garraty. Kevin was training as a helicopter pilot when the Johnson Administration prepared to send troops to Vietnam. After a few months with his family, he deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division in the summer of 1965. He persuaded Sarah to move to his hometown of South Miami, Florida, where his parents bought her and their grandson, Jimmy Kay, a new house.

Kevin was killed in action during a “search and destroy” mission in a Viet Cong-controlled area less than a year later. Sarah briefly considered returning to her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, but her in-laws persuaded her to remain in South Miami. Consequently, Jimmy grew up in the tropical climate of South Florida, a region that experienced significant growth and cultural transformation between 1965 and 1983.

Jimmy grew up in a single-parent home and was exceptionally bright and curious about his surroundings. Between 1970 and 1975, Sarah dated occasionally, but her main priority was to foster a love for reading and learning in Jim. She urged him not to follow a military path like his father; however, she supported his interest in any field, including military history.

From kindergarten, Jimmy attended public schools. He went to Kinloch Park Elementary from 1970 to June 1977. Excelling academically, he often spent recess in the library. Inspired by his mother’s love for music, he joined the school choir in fourth grade and continued until moving on to junior high.

In the 1975-1976 school year, Jim met two individuals who would influence his life in major, but strikingly different, ways.

In Ms. Kirk’s fifth-grade class, he met a gregarious and witty 11-year-old named Mark Adams Prieto, who lived a few houses away from Jim and Sarah with his father Frank, his mother Dale, and younger sister Leslie Anne. Mark’s outgoing personality, fearless attitude toward girls—he was notorious for his crushes on attractive female teachers, including Ms. Kirk—and irreverent wit sharply contrasted with Jim’s reserved, more intellectual personality. Yet, they became inseparable friends, earning the nickname “the Twins from Different Moms.” Indeed, the bond between Jim and Mark was akin to that of siblings; Mark, an older brother in the Prieto household, “adopted” Jim, an only child, as his de facto younger brother. He taught Jim how to loosen up a bit from his bookish ways and appreciate things like old Abbott and Costello comedies that still aired on Miami indie TV station WCIX, ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll singers like Bill Haley and the Comets and Fats Domino, and introduced Jim to both Mad and Playboy magazines.

In Mr. Beckworth’s music—and later, chorus—class, Jim met Katherine “Kathy” Ellen Maraschino, inevitably nicknamed “Cherry.” She was a beautiful redhead with freckles on her fair skin and vivacious green eyes. For Jim, it was love at first sight. Despite his fear of rejection, he waited a month before, with some prodding from Mark, asking Kathy if she would go steady with him. Much to his surprise, she said “Yes.”

Though they had their ups and downs as a preadolescent couple, Jim and Kathy’s relationship lasted from the second half of fifth grade to almost their “graduation” from South Miami Junior High School at the end of the 1979-1980 school year. As a young teen, Jim often felt the strong pull of his growing feelings for Kathy. However, he was aware of the consequences of intimacy at such an early age, and his cautious side overrode his impulses. He refrained from initiating anything beyond making out, much to Kathy’s frustration.

Jim’s self-control, though commendable, ultimately led to the end of his relationship with Kathy. Despite her feelings for Jim, she was unwilling to wait until they were older to take their relationship to the next level. Believing she could remain with Jim while exploring intimacy with someone more adventurous, Kathy began seeing an eighth grader who played heavy metal in a local garage band.

Despite her best efforts to be discreet, Kathy’s “side guy” boasted to his best friend about their intimacy. Inevitably, the other band members found out during a beer-soaked practice, and within a week, stories of Kathy’s infidelity spread like wildfire through the hallways and classrooms of South Miami Junior High School. This caused Kathy great embarrassment and left Jim disillusioned. Feeling angry and betrayed, Jim broke up with Kathy in a final phone conversation. Unable to control his anger and disappointment, he threw away every memento of their relationship, including photos and presents Kathy had given him from fifth grade to ninth.

What Can and Should Change:

Emotional Vulnerability: Jim’s journey towards opening up emotionally and expressing his feelings, especially his later love for Marty, is a crucial area for growth. This change will allow him to form deeper, more meaningful relationships and overcome the emotional barriers created by his past experiences.

Balancing Intellectual and Emotional Life: Learning to balance his intellectual pursuits with his emotional needs will help Jim lead a more fulfilling life. This change will enable him to engage more fully with the world around him and the people he cares about.

What Can’t Change:

Core Values and Intellectual Curiosity: Jim’s love for learning and his thoughtful, analytical approach to life are fundamental aspects of his character. These traits define him and drive his passion for history and teaching.

Loyalty and Capacity for Love: Despite his struggles to express it, Jim’s deep sense of loyalty and his capacity for love are intrinsic to who he is. These qualities will continue to shape his actions and decisions, providing a stable foundation as he navigates his personal growth.