Stuntboy, in the Meantime

Zola is Portico’s best friend and the deuteragonist of the story. She and Portico met just after Zola moved into the apartment building. Herbert was teasing her about her glasses, and Portico stepped in to shield Zola from Herbert’s words, acting like a hero before he ever called himself one. Zola and Portico instantly became friends, and Zola became Portico’s mentor. Zola is knowledgeable about managing anxiety because her mother is a yoga instructor. She teaches Portico how to breathe deeply and slowly and to meditate to prevent excessive worrying. Zola and Portico also bond over their shared love of Super Space Warriors, which Zola uses to teach Portico lessons and make sense of what his parents are going through. Zola is always there for Portico and looks for him when she knows he’s upset. She listens to all his concerns and always tries to placate them. Portico protects Zola from bullying and plays superhero games with her. Because of Zola, Portico has The Foundational Supports Provided by Friendship, which are particularly important in a time when Portico does not have stability in his home life. Portico turns to Zola when he has nowhere else to turn, and she acts as the constant in Portico’s world.

Portico’s mom and dad are static characters that are characterized mainly by the fact that they are in the midst of a separation and constantly argue. Their arguments become a source of anxiety in Portico’s life, particularly because his parents almost forget about him and focus entirely on their conflict. Portico’s mother has long, curly hair and works as a hairdresser; Portico’s dad is a muscular man who works as a waste collector. Portico sees both of his parents as heroes for what they do because they are both so skilled at their jobs. He wants to protect these “heroes” in his life from the conflict that is sure to destroy them and their family. Portico’s parents constantly tell him to go find Zola “in the meantime,” and Portico interprets this as a literal reference to a “mean time,” in which his parents are mean to one another. The entire story unfolds during this “mean time” as Portico becomes increasingly upset and anxious with each argument he witnesses. Every time Portico is excited about something, he wants to tell his parents but instead finds them too busy arguing. Portico’s parents even argue over him, putting him directly in the middle of their conflict. What Portico deals with and how he responds demonstrates The Effects of Family Conflict on Children; Portico becomes Stuntboy in order to mediate a situation that his parents should be able to handle on their own.

Herbert is Portico and Zola’s neighbor and is around their age. He is a round character who starts off as a stereotypical bully but later reveals himself to have a complex family history that led to his aggressive behavior. Herbert antagonizes Portico and Zola every chance he gets, even breaking Zola’s glasses and trying to convince Zola and Portico to jump down the trash chute. Herbert is resentful because his parents divorced, and his mother remarried the superintendent of the apartment building. As a result, Herbert moved from a house to an apartment and lost contact with his father. Herbert acts out with aggression and anger because he is unable to express what truly bothers him. When Portico and Zola return Herbert’s earring, they have a chance to see inside the boiler room where he spends most of his time and inside the real Herbert. Herbert proves himself to be wise and even empathetic as he explains to Portico that his parents are likely getting a divorce. While Herbert begins as a bully, he becomes a friend who keeps Portico afloat. Portico’s decision to forgive Herbert and try to befriend him shows that Portico’s heroism extends beyond stunts and preventing arguments.