# Jake — Short Fiction character guide

> Jake in Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Perkins ast Jake, Mr. Perkins

**First appearance:** 0000-my-roomy

## Snapshot

A working man's name Lardner returns to often, usually a friend or bystander whose plain speech anchors the story's world.

## Who they are

Jake is the kind of figure who fills out a Lardner scene: a fellow at the edge of the action, a friend of the man in the middle, someone whose ordinary talk makes the extraordinary behavior around him look stranger. He is not the schemer and not the victim, but the witness, the one whose steady presence lets the reader measure how far the principals have drifted. In a body of work full of talkers, Jake is the one who mostly listens.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Conklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/mr_conklin)

_professional_

Jake is likely an employee or subordinate of Mr. Conklin, with frequent work-related interactions.

### [Mr. Conklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/mr_conklin)

_professional_

Jake is likely an employee or subordinate of Mr. Conklin, with frequent work-related interactions.

### [Mr. Conklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/mr_conklin)

_professional_

Jake is likely an employee or subordinate of Mr. Conklin, with frequent work-related interactions.

## In the story

### [Sick ’Em](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/sick-em)

The narrator's confidant, to whom he tells the story in confidence.

### [Ball-a-Hole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ball-a-hole)

Fellow caddy who partners with the narrator, sharing in the profits and conspiring to cheat the golfers.

### [Ball-a-Hole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ball-a-hole)

The other golfer, who is suspicious of the caddies' tricks and argues about the score.

### [The Yellow Kid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-yellow-kid)

A handler or manager figure involved with the Kid's career.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/jake
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters