Tommy is Ed’s younger brother. Since they were children, Tommy has seemingly been better than Ed at every activity they undertake. Tommy lives in the city and is studying to become a lawyer. He has an attractive girlfriend named Ingrid. Tommy serves as an example of someone who has achieved traditional success in both his romantic life and his career, success which at the beginning of the novel Ed feels inadequate for not having.
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Tommy Kennedy Character Timeline in I Am the Messenger
The timeline below shows where the character Tommy Kennedy appears in I Am the Messenger. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
2 of Diamonds: Sex Should Be Like Math: An Introduction to My Life
...in one of the bad neighborhoods. Ed stayed in his childhood home until his younger brother, Tommy, left for college. Ed was too lazy to get accepted into college, so now...
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...family photo. The photo shows Ed’s Ma, his father, his two sisters, and his younger brother. Only half the people in the photo are smiling. Ed describes his father as a...
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8 of Diamonds: Being Jimmy
...his Ma, he realizes she has replaced the coffee table she got him with one Tommy, Ed’s brother, bought her. When Ed expresses offense at this, Ma insults his personal taste...
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King of Diamonds: Murder at the Cathedral
...Jerry. He tells the boss he needs to take his taxi home to help his brother move. The boss initially refuses but then agrees when Ed reminds him that he’s a...
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6 of Clubs: The Stones
...chases after him. Ed remembers a similar situation where he was chasing after his younger brother, who was always faster than him. They used to race each other to the river...
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...the river as the sun begins to rise. He thinks about how he and his brother used to fish upstream while standing on smooth rocks.
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...stones. The sun is rising, and his cab doors are still unlocked. Ed pictures his brother and himself climbing over the stones. He realizes this is the “home” the card was...
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7 of Clubs: The Priest
Later that night, Ed is talking to his own brother, Tommy, on the phone. He is asking Tommy if he is the one sending the...
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8 of Clubs: Juveniles
...In response, Tony invites Ed into his home. Hesitantly, Tony explains that he and his brother are estranged. Ed says Tony does not need to talk about it if he doesn’t...
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10 of Clubs: The Easy One and Ice Cream
...shops, and pushing around weaker children. Gavin lives with his hard-drinking mother and equally criminal brother in the poor part of town. The brothers fight constantly. One night, Ed sees the...
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...a little bit away from Gavin and asks him what happened. Gavin answers that his brother is a jerk. He repeats again that he wants to kill Daniel. Ed leaves, thinking...
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Queen of Clubs: Blood and Roses
Ed knows his next task is helping Gavin and his brother. He doesn’t believe that Gavin and Daniel have ever truly had to deal with an...
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3 of Hearts: The Casual Suit
...to his Ma’s house for Christmas. His sisters arrive with their kids and husbands. His brother, Tommy, brings his beautiful new girlfriend, Ingrid. Ma seems the least happy to see Ed...
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Tommy stops Ed on the front step to make sure he is okay. Ed say he...
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Tommy returns to the house and Ed tries to leave. His Ma stops him again. She...
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