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Grandma
Grandma’s second husband, Leo, is a kind and gentle man who adopts the nickname “Steppa”—short for step-grandpa. Leo has a great sense of humor in spite of his slightly introverted personality. He slowly bonds with Jack because of his ability to just let Jack feel his feelings and express himself, without either coddling him or pushing him too far.
Steppa/Leo Quotes in Room
The Room quotes below are all either spoken by Steppa/Leo or refer to Steppa/Leo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Living Quotes
“Can you come here and swing in the hammock?”
Pretty soon,” she says.
“When?”
“I don’t know, it depends. Is everything OK there with Grandma?”
“And Steppa.”
“Right. What’s new?”
“Everything,” I say.
That makes her laugh, I don’t know why.
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“Did you play LEGO with your kids?”
“I don’t have any kids.”
“How come?”
Steppa shrugs. “Just never happened.”
I watch his hands, they’re lumpy but clever. “Is there a word for adults when they aren’t parents?”
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Steppa/Leo Character Timeline in Room
The timeline below shows where the character Steppa/Leo appears in Room. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
After
...man with a beard enters the room—Grandma introduces the man to Ma and Jack as Leo. Ma is confused and asks where her father is. Grandma replies that Ma’s dad is...
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...Jack’s ears soon grow “tired.” Even after Paul and Deana leave, though, Grandma stays—and brings Leo into the room to spend time with Ma and Jack. Grandma tells Jack he can...
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...explains that “there was no reason to stop,” and curtly admonishes Grandma for judging her. Steppa suggests he and Grandma leave and let Jack and Ma rest, and Grandma bids them...
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...Clay, Dr. Kendrick, Pilar, and Ajeet, as well as Grandma, Paul, and Deana. Jack includes Steppa, but Ma calls him a “rebound.” After counting friends, Ma and Jack head down to...
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Living
That night, Jack is at Grandma and Steppa’s house. He has come to live with them in spite of Dr. Clay’s recommendation that...
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...want to sleep in it. Grandma offers to put a blow-up mattress in her and Steppa’s room for the night, and Jack says he’d like that. He brings his Dora bag...
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...neglectful of Jack’s sensitivity. Jack asks if his skin is going to fall off, and Steppa tells him “little bits of it” soon will.
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The next day, Jack has learned the rules of Grandma and Steppa’s house a little better. Steppa spends a lot of the time alone in the den,...
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...“not poisoned.” Ma insists she’s getting better. Ma asks Jack “what’s new” at Grandma and Steppa’s, to which Jack replies, “Everything.” Ma laughs.
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That night, Steppa makes pasta carbonara while Jack and Grandma watch. Jack plays with a match and nearly...
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...comes by for a visit. He asks Jack all about his stay at Grandma and Steppa’s so far, and Jack says he’s enjoying being in the real world—even though “nothing in...
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Jack and Steppa play LEGOs, and Steppa remarks on how long it’s been since he played with the...
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...is drying himself with a towel, he notices little pieces of his skin coming off. Steppa comes into the bathroom to fetch his slippers, and when he sees Jack, he offers...
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Jack has been at Grandma and Steppa’s house for a whole week—that makes it two weeks he’s been “in the world.” Jack...
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One day, Steppa announces that a delivery has arrived for Jack. He cuts open a huge box and...
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One afternoon, Grandma and Steppa take Jack out for a surprise. They drive a long way, and when they arrive...
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...to Ma on the phone and tells her about all the things he, Grandma, and Steppa have been doing, and all the things he’s learning. Jack asks Ma if she can...
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...going back to the clinic. Grandma tries to stop Jack, but he yells at her. Steppa picks Jack up and drags him back up the stairs, refusing to drop him even...
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...round-the-clock counselors. Grandma, wringing her hands, tells Ma she’s “never lived away from home before.” Steppa lets out a huge laugh.
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...Ma and Jack spend time at their own apartment as well as visiting Grandma and Steppa at their house. Paul comes to visit Ma and Jack, and brings Jack a new...
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