Short Fiction · Character

Tommy

A strong, silent would-be head-gardener who plans to eliminate woman from his life — until Sally Williams arrives in Millbourne and ruins everything.

major

Also known as naughty Tommy, Thomas, the luckless Thomas, Tom, Thomas Kitchener, Tom Kitchener, young Tom

First appearance: When Papa Swore in Hindustani

As a major figure in Short Fiction, Tommy is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Sylvia's pug, shot by Colonel Reynolds for digging up carnations.

In the storyWhen Papa Swore in HindustaniOpen this moment free

See Tommy in When Papa Swore in Hindustani Book page

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Tom Kitchener is a young man with a career plan and no time for romance, until Sally's bright brown eyes and determined chin hit him like a thunderbolt and he finds himself stammering 'I hope not' over a rosebush. His rivals are legion — every youth in Millbourne crowds the Williams cottage to glower at Sally — and Tom's neglected education in the arts of courtship leaves him badly outmatched. His silent, crimson-eared devotion is the engine of a comedy about what happens when a man who means to be sensible falls hopelessly in love.

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The fuller portrait of Tommy sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Tommy in When Papa Swore in Hindustani

Character Web

25 connections

A slice of how Tommy sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Comedy and authority figures
Friends and central young men
Central cast of characters

+20 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional peak occurs when the narrator’s pervasive homesickness and alienation crystallize as she hears t…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Sally Preston
romantic · positive
Sally and Tommy are romantically involved, with a playful or devoted dynamic. How this plays out →
Sally Preston
romantic · positive
Sally and Tommy are romantically involved, with a playful or devoted dynamic. How this plays out →
Sally Preston
romantic · positive
Sally and Tommy are romantically involved, with a playful or devoted dynamic. How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Tommy in When Papa Swore in Hindustani

In the story

Tommy appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

When Papa Swore in Hindustani
Sylvia's pug, shot by Colonel Reynolds for digging up carnations.
Something to Worry About
A large, grave, self-sufficing second gardener at the Hall, aged 25, who falls in love with Sally at first sight and woos her with vegetables.
The Mixer
The narrator of the chapter, a mixed-breed dog who observes and participates in the lives of his various owners.
I: He Meets a Shy Gentleman
The narrator dog, who reflects on his appearance, his restless nature, and his loyalty to the shy man.
II: He Moves in Society
The narrator dog, who is hit by a car and taken in by Master Peter, later mistakenly credited with saving Peter from kidnappers.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Tommy unlock in the free preview.

See Tommy in When Papa Swore in Hindustani