Mark Benneton (Childhood Friend): Chuckles called me one day, sounding more manic than usual. I mean, the guy was ecstatic. So, he calls me and says he's got a new bike and a new friend. See, that's how Chuckles and I stayed friends after high school. We had both gotten into motorcycle riding in junior year and kept in touch through that after I went to college and Chuckles did whatever it is he did. Anyway, Chuckles asked me to come to the docks for an evening ride. Sure, why not, I told him, it had been a while since we'd last seen each other. Big mistake, BIG mistake.

Angie Ford (Childhood Friend): Chuckles and I started dating round senior year. A lotta folks went off to college and whatnot but Chuckles and I were some of the few that stayed. I didn't really have the stomach for the big city, I was just fine where I was. And Chuckles, well, he couldn't really leave even if he wanted to. I mean, can you imagine a big stalky fella with curly black hair down to his waste and bleeding knuckles sitting in a coffee shop or workin' in an office building? Yeah, right.

Lynne Dennis (Mother): Charlie got a job at a glass cutter's after graduatin' from high school. We was worried there for a while about his future, what with his erm, condition, and all, but it worked out really great. He worked mostly alone, which I think he liked, and the owner, Mr. Ridgefield didn't seem to mind the smears on the glass all too much. That, and it kept Charlie out of public.

Mark Benneton: So, I came home from the city the following Friday and met Chuckles out by the docks. And I gotta admit I was feeling uneasy, as one should whenever around Chuckles, always. Well, I ignored my instincts and took the covers off my dad's old Harley and met him at the docks. The docks were bigger than I remembered, and I was worried about finding Chuckles (he hated cell phones) but then I remembered to look down. That was the good thing about Chuckles, he always left a trail so it was never too hard to find him.

Rachel Gold (Neighbor): Sometimes, I'd invite Charlie to come chat and drink lemonade with me on the porch. He always kept that bright face and smile on, but I could tell he was lonely. When all his classmates left for school in the city, Charlie didn't have too many people left. There was Angie, but I never thought much of that girl, you could take one look and tell that she'd never amount to anything more than a waitress. Anyway, having Charlie over was great, even though I did have to mop the porch after he left.

Angie Ford: After high school, I got a job waitressing at the diner with Mrs. Gold.

Mark Benneton: I followed Chuckles' trail behind a shipping warehouse and saw him tinkering with his new bike, a vespa. I couldn't believe that that was what had been so excited about. I laughed at how pathetic it was. Chuckles, hearing me, looked and gave me one of his famous big dumb smiles. Hey man, check it out, he said. I tried my hardest not to sound too patronizing but I wasn't succeeding. Luckily, Chuckles wasn't the sharpest spoon in the drawer, so his feeling weren't hurt. Where's your friend, I asked him after finishing laughing. He had a look on his face like he'd forgotten something for a second, and then called out Toothpick, Toothpick, at which point a monkey climbed out of a trash can and onto his back. I just stared.

Joseph Dennis (Father): I told that dumbass not to get that monkey. One animal in the house was plenty. And that son of a bitch, he looked me straight in the face with a big ol' smile and said, ok, Pa. The very next day, he went 'n got himself one. You see, Chuck was special like that. He'd never argue, never get angry. He would just say whatever you wanted to hear and then go right ahead and do what he wanted anyway. 'course I beat him somethin' good that day.

Mark Benneton: I had been around Chuckles enough that not much surprised me anymore, especially not something like a monkey. It was disgusting, though. I could see that Chuckels liked to play with it, a lot. Even in the dark of the night I could see the monkey's fur was spotted and smeared with Chuckles' blood. I didn't want to get anywhere near that monkey. Luckily, I never would.