Running Loose

Carter Sampson is Louie’s best friend and a quarterback on the Trout football team. Throughout the novel, Carter remains consistent, embodying the typical jock stereotype: strong, confident, and exceptionally skilled at football. Louie notes, “Carter’s big and strong and fast and smart, and he can throw the ball a mile” (7). Carter is popular with everyone at school, including Boomer, who respects him. He exudes confidence, yet Louie notices calculated behavior: “It’s hard for me to figure how he can look so free and easy when I know he calculates every move he makes” (21). Unlike Louie, Carter doesn’t take an open stand against racism. When, in Chapter 5, Coach Lednecky suggests harming Washington, Carter remains indifferent, merely shrugging when Louie looks at him outraged. This moment suggests that Carter prioritizes popularity over taking a stand against dirty play and racism.

However, Carter remains a steadfast friend to Louie throughout the ups and downs. After Becky’s death, he stands by Louie’s side. Louie acknowledges Carter’s loyalty, saying, “[H]e’s one of the most constant things in my life. Doesn’t always back my position, but he never tries to take it away from me either” (134). When Louie starts excelling in track, Carter is there to cheer him on, often displaying more enthusiasm than Louie himself. He has a habit of giving Louie a reassuring thumbs up, and he does so at the end of the novel when Louie graduates, symbolizing his unwavering support.

Boomer Cowans is the antagonist in Running Loose, embodying the classic bully archetype. Boomer is a running back on the football team and a great athlete. Louie envies his instinct in the game, which he lacks. Louie explains that Boomer earned his nickname for how he punts: “On a good day he could kick the ball to Seattle” (60). Boomer’s real name is never revealed. Boomer’s father is physically abusive, and he has had a difficult upbringing. Louie recounts instances where Boomer’s father “almost beat him senseless for using” the word “wussy” (10). He also remembers a grim birthday when Boomer’s father punished him and threw away his gifts for lying.

This harsh home life taught Boomer violence and aggression toward others. Louie fears him because he knows Boomer doesn’t like him, and Louie describes him as meanspirited: “The only time he laughs is when someone else is getting screwed” (8). Boomer assaults Louie in two separate instances: First, Boomer punches Louie in the face in Chapter 5, and later, he attacks Louie in his car, clinging to it as Louie attempts to drive away in Chapter 7. When Lednecky suggests that because Washington is Black, he needs to be hurt if Trout is to win, Boomer readily embraces the plan, yelling, “Kill that [epithet]!” (36) and rousing other players to endorse the plan as well. He then uses more racial slurs to refer to Washington. Louie stands up to him, exemplifying the theme of Confronting and Challenging Racism, but to no avail. Boomer attacks Washington during the game.

Despite being a typical bully, there’s more to Boomer than meets the eye. His violent behavior, rooted in his father’s abuse, has a logical source. Louie admits to feeling sorry for him, recognizing that football is Boomer’s only chance for a better future. Surprisingly, Boomer shows a softer side after Becky’s death by trying to calm Louie down at the funeral. Since then, Louie notices a shift in Boomer’s attitude: “Since the funeral he’s given me a little room. I guess there was something in my agony that rang a bell in his own life” (140). That Boomer can grow and demonstrate even a little empathy for Louie signals his character’s growth and complexity.

Becky Sanders is Louie’s girlfriend in the novel, and she dies in a car accident. Her death is the most challenging ordeal Louie faces during his senior year. Becky is a cheerleader at Trout High School and is introduced as a girl everyone at the school has a crush on: “Becky was one of those girls you want so bad it aches” (13). Louie acknowledges that she can have any guy she wants. She is tall with long, dark hair and green eyes. Beyond her looks, Becky is smart and confident. She approaches Louie to ask him on a date and even offers to pay: “So what? This is my date. I ask you out, I pay” (39). She is also a hard-working student, destined to be valedictorian, and accepted to Stanford.

Becky has had to deal with her share of challenges. Louie describes her mother as a “case for the books” (22), and she used to have frequent conflicts with her. To cope, Becky saw a psychologist who taught her how to let go and avoid confrontations. After her parents’ divorce, she chose to live with her father and moved to Trout, where he works as a frontier lawyer. These experiences have made Becky very mature. Following the incident with Washington, she shares her psychologist’s advice with Louie, urging him to let go. When Louie is anxious about intimacy, she reassures him they can take their time. She is also generous and selfless, even offering to give up her role as a cheerleader to support Louie after he is unjustly expelled from the football team.

Becky’s death forces Louie to confront grief and loss during his formative years. He is angered by the injustice of her death and by the superficial way she is represented by the preacher at the service and by the plaque at school. Both the preacher and Jasper focus only on Becky’s achievements, and Louie laments that what mattered about Becky isn’t “that she was going to be valedictorian or that she was a cheerleader or in Honor Society or any of that” (135). Becky, like everyone, is more than her accomplishments, just as Louie is more than his worst moments of anger.

Louie’s parents, Norm and Brenda, are secondary characters who play a supportive role throughout the novel. They stand in stark contrast to Boomer’s abusive father. Louie refers to them by their first names, hinting at a modern, nontraditional dynamic within their family. Norm runs a gas station, where Louie frequently assists him, and is the school board chair. Brenda’s occupation, on the other hand, is not mentioned.

Early in the novel, Louie expresses deep gratitude for his parents, acknowledging they have always been there for him. Norm is portrayed as a calm problem solver, but Brenda is “a little more emotional” (18). Louie has occasional conflicts with her but recognizes her profound love and support. Both parents have strong moral values, and when Louie is suspended, they stand by him, praising him for standing up for his beliefs. Norm defends Louie’s actions in front of the school principal, Mr. Jasper. Moreover, when Becky passes away, they comfort Louie in their unique ways. Brenda expresses her love through physical gestures, offering tight hugs, while Norm takes practical steps to support his son by arranging for him to spend time out of town. Louie acknowledges his father’s efforts to ensure his well-being: “Boy, that Norm is always there. I can just see him figuring a way to get me out of school and away from Trout for a little while” (120). The scene in Chapter 19 where Norm hands Louie his diploma and tells him he’s proud of him exemplifies the depth of his paternal love and support.

Washington is a Black student attending Salmon River High School. Originally from Oakland, California, his family relocated to Salmon River to steer him away from a negative friend group back home. Washington is an excellent athlete: He’s a quarterback with an impressive track record of six touchdowns. When Louie first sees him, he’s struck by his athleticism: He “seemed to float when he ran. And he threw ball […] like there was no effort involved” (42). He compares him to Carter, Trout’s star athlete. Washington, described by Sally as funny and smart, appears to share a close bond with his teammates: When Louie goes to the bar in Salmon River, he sees Washington enjoying himself with friends.

Because he’s Black, Washington encounters racism. Before the football game between Salmon River and Trout, Coach Lednecky comes up with a malicious strategy to take him out. Boomer uses a common racial slur and refers to Washington in derogatory terms: “Kill that [epithet]!” (36), he yells. This exemplifies the theme of Confronting and Challenging Racism: Lednecky wants Boomer to target Washington because of his skin color, and Louie stands as the lone voice against this injustice. This incident is the catalyst in Louie’s journey of personal growth. Washington respects Louie’s support. Before their two-mile run, he acknowledges Louie’s integrity and tells him he’s honored to compete against him. Moreover, despite his loss, Washington demonstrates sportsmanship by congratulating Louie on his victory.

Dakota is Louie’s boss at the Buckhorn restaurant. He goes beyond his professional role and acts as a mentor for Louie. An older man who lives above the restaurant, Dakota is affectionately described by Louie as a “rugged-looking old fart” (13). The hook replacing his left hand gives him a pirate-like appearance. Despite never finishing fourth grade, he is smart and wise and often offers Louie advice. Louie observes, “He’s a good man to listen to, if you don’t mind a little rough language” (12). Dakota treats Louie like a son and dislikes it when Louie puts himself down. Before the first game of the season, he advises him to focus on doing his best rather than worrying about winning or losing. Dakota also has strong morals. When Louie is suspended from school, he praises him for taking a stand against Lednecky’s foul play, emphasizing the importance of standing up for what one believes is right.

In addition to running his restaurant, Dakota occasionally drives the town’s makeshift ambulance. When Becky has her accident, he drives to the bridge and takes her away. In the aftermath, he supports Louie as he is Coping with Grief and Loss. Dakota remarks, “If you come through this, you’ll be a man” (114), emphasizing the potential for growth. Using the symbolism of the checkerboard, he offers valuable advice: Without challenges, life wouldn’t be worth living.

Jasper and Lednecky are two secondary characters who serve a similar role in the narrative: They both abuse their power and antagonize Louie. Mr. Jasper is the principal of Trout High School. He used to be a coach, and he exudes authority and discipline. He has a close relationship with Lednecky, the football coach. Louie often finds them together in Jasper’s office. Louie notes the striking similarities between the two and observes, “Jasper’s just an old version of Lednecky” (62). As a coach, Lednecky is aggressive and determined. He imposes strict rules on the players and resorts to unethical and racist tactics, such as suggesting Boomer target Washington. He then denies wrongdoing and shifts the blame onto Louie for challenging his authority.

Louie describes Jasper and Lednecky as “the powers around here” (67), highlighting their dominance and influence within Trout High School. Their abuse of authority is evident as they manipulate situations. Following the incident with Washington, Jasper backs Lednecky, taking action against Louie by suspending him. Recognizing their unethical behavior, Madison stands up against them, asserting, “These guys don’t own this place” (123). Their control is eventually weakened when Mr. Sanders, a lawyer, intervenes on Louie’s behalf, prompting them to allow Louie to participate in track.

Jasper and Lednecky are antagonistic and close-minded. While Jasper doesn’t vocalize racist sentiments, Lednecky refers to Washington with racist language and encourages targeting him for injury: “If you get a clear shot, you better damn well take it” (43). Furthermore, both Jasper and Lednecky have sexist beliefs. They dismiss girls’ sports as unimportant and neglect to invest in programs for female athletes at the school.