# Tad Willing — Jibby Jones character guide > Tad Willing in Jibby Jones by Ellis Parker Butler. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Tad **First appearance:** 0000-i-oliver-parmenter-jones ## Snapshot Quick with a joke and quick on his feet, Tad needles Jibby about his nose one minute and bolts for the brick house the next when the bees swarm. ## Who they are Tad is one of the island boys in Jibby's circle, comfortable enough with him to tease that he'll go home and give his nose extra exercise. He's part of the chorus that watches Jibby's odd sniffing rituals with growing worry, and he's among the boys who follow Wampus to the dead pine instead of trailing Jibby to the Run. When the digging starts, Tad is the first to yelp and run — a small, vivid reminder that this treasure hunt has real teeth in it. ## Relationships ### [Jibby Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/jibby_jones) _friendship_ Tad Willing is Jibby's best friend and constant ally, sharing in his exploits and providing steadfast support. ### [Wampus Smale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/wampus_smale) _friendship_ Tad Willing and Wampus Smale are friends and frequent co-adventurers with Jibby. ### [Jibby Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/jibby_jones) _friendship_ Tad Willing is Jibby's best friend and constant ally, sharing in his exploits and providing steadfast support. ### [Jibby Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/jibby_jones) _friendship_ Tad Willing is Jibby's best friend and constant ally, sharing in his exploits and providing steadfast support. ### [Wampus Smale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/wampus_smale) _friendship_ Tad Willing and Wampus Smale are friends and frequent co-adventurers with Jibby. ### [Wampus Smale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/wampus_smale) _friendship_ Tad Willing and Wampus Smale are friends and frequent co-adventurers with Jibby. ## In the story ### [I: Oliver Parmenter Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/i-oliver-parmenter-jones) One of the Riverbank boys; initially skeptical of Jibby but impressed by his motorboat repair. ### [II: The Pearl-Diggers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/ii-the-pearl-diggers) Leads the effort to fool Jibby with invented details about pearl diving, but later feels ashamed when Jibby succeeds. ### [The Climbing Rabbit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/iii-the-climbing-rabbit) Present under the cottage, laughs at Jibby's suggestion about squirrels, and admits he hasn't heard of anyone named M'rell. ### [IV: Do Fish Climb Trees?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/iv-do-fish-climb-trees) Joins the group in bending the sapling and helps hold it down; expresses doubt about the method. ### [The Fishing Prize](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/v-the-fishing-prize) Participates in the treasure company discussions and agrees that Wampus will likely win the prize. ### [VI: The Prize-Winner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/vi-the-prize-winner) Teases Jibby about exercising his nose. ### [X: The Treasure Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/x-the-treasure-hunt) Helps dig for worms in Mosquito Hollow and is part of the treasure hunt planning and execution. ### [Where Is Greenland?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xi-where-is-greenland) Narrates the chapter, participates in the exploration, and sarcastically questions Jibby's idea about earning money through treasure hunting. ### [XII: The Worm Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xii-the-worm-mine) Participates in mining and planning, suggests half-size and trial cans for the worm business. ### [XIII: The Viking Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xiii-the-viking-ship) First to identify the buried object as a boat; helps excavate and is covered in molasses. ### [XV: The Grape Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xv-the-grape-tree) Informed about the grape tree and tasked with getting baskets and axes for the expedition. ### [Congo Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xvi-congo-magic) Narrator of the chapter; participates in the mock magic and later explains the trick to the others. ### [Grains of Sand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xvii-grains-of-sand) Participates in the discussion about the map and points out the X mark. ### [XVIII: Pirate’s Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xviii-pirate-s-treasure) Fetches Jibby when the hollow spot is found, helps dig, and is part of the group that finds the 1804 dollar. ### [XIX: The Tough Customer Appears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xix-the-tough-customer-appears) Questions Jibby about his imaginative method and eventually agrees that imagination leads to invention. ### [XX: Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xx-orlando) Stands ready with an axe to guard the Tough Customer after he is pulled from the well. ### [Winged Enemies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xxi-winged-enemies) First to be stung; yelps and runs to the brick house with the others. ### [A New Swimming-Hole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xxii-a-new-swimming-hole) Assists in the plan to spoil the treasure hunters' food and helps with the birch tree maneuver. ### [XXIII: Treasure Trove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xxiii-treasure-trove) Asks Jibby about the legality of Bill Catlin's claims, and helps collect fees from the crowd. ### [XXIV: The Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xxiv-the-treasure) Helps collect dollars from treasure hunters and carries the money back to town. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters/tad_willing - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jibby_jones_se/characters