Ms. Bixby's Last Day

The second narrator is Steve Sakata. A worshipping Catholic of Japanese descent, Steve is so bright that any grade below an A greatly distresses his parents. He possesses an exceptional memory and the ability to think logically. Steve perceives the world statistically, such that he discounts the possibility of certain improbable events, such as a person actually meeting their one true soulmate in a world full of 8 billion people.

Steve is Topher’s best friend. Their relationship is strictly guided by Topher, with Steve willing to follow his lead in any endeavor. For years they have played video games and pretended to be superheroes in fantasy role plays. When Brand becomes the third member of their circle, Steve feels jealous and tries to assure himself that Topher will not forsake his friendship for Brand.

Steve has a sister, Christina, who is several years older and who has dominated him like a third parent all his life. Christina is virtually the perfect child as an athlete, scholar, and musician. Physically slight and insecure, Steve believes he can never match his sister’s level of excellence. Continually pushing him to do his best are his parents, who are ever-present in his life. 

The third narrator and relative newcomer to the circle of three is Brand Walker. Taller and physically stronger than Topher or Steve, Brand often faces down students who want to bully them or mock them because of their affection for comics and role play. He became part of their circle in fifth grade when he saw Topher and Steve sitting alone at lunch and asked if he could join them.

Several tragedies mark Brand’s life. His mother died when he was a toddler. His father, with whom he shared a close, playful relationship, suffered grave physical injuries in a work-related accident, preventing him from pursuing his career. Brand’s father ceased his attempts at physical rehabilitation, which resulted in Brand becoming his father’s primary caregiver. The despair his father feels colors Brand’s attitude as well. Anderson uses Brand’s experience with illness, injury, and death to represent a fuller spectrum of Early Adolescents Encountering Death and Dying, and he uses Brand’s grim reaction to the news of Maggie’s illness to foreshadow the fact that she will die.

While all the narrators have close relationships with Maggie, Brand comes to rely upon her the most. Beginning during a heavy winter snow, Maggie begins to transport Brand on mutual Friday shopping trips over the course of 10 weeks. This culminates in Brand’s father suffering another fall, landing him in the hospital.