# J. D. Hutchinson — Diverging Roads character guide

> J. D. Hutchinson in Diverging Roads by Rose Wilder Lane.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Hutchinson

**First appearance:** 0001-diverging-roads

## Snapshot

Helen's easygoing office partner in the San José land business, whose cigar smoke, baseball scores, and tolerant chuckle frame her days of selling and self-doubt.

## Who they are

Hutchinson shares the fourth-floor office with Helen, trading gossip about a colleague's philandering, reporting callers and prospects, and tracking the Seals' score while she runs down mail and tires. His casual cynicism about men and wives grates on her, yet his steady presence and dry humor make the office a place she can work. He matters as the ordinary working world against which Helen measures her restlessness and her returning feelings for Paul.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/characters/mr_kennedy)

_professional_

J. D. Hutchinson and Mr. Kennedy are colleagues or business associates, with a formal working relationship.

### [Mr. Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/characters/mr_kennedy)

_professional_

J. D. Hutchinson and Mr. Kennedy are colleagues or business associates, with a formal working relationship.

### [Mr. Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/characters/mr_kennedy)

_professional_

J. D. Hutchinson and Mr. Kennedy are colleagues or business associates, with a formal working relationship.

## In the story

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/chapters/xvi)

The other salesman assigned to Helen's territory; initially patronizing but later respects her after she outsmarts him.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/chapters/xvii)

A lazy but competent salesman; Helen urgently advises him to make a client cable money out of Germany due to the impending war.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/chapters/xviii)

Helen's business partner, who is shocked and protests her decision to quit, but eventually takes over her share of commissions and the car.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/characters/j_d_hutchinson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/diverging_roads_se/characters