Characters

The most important characters in the short story “Walk Don’t Run” by Douglas Bruton are the narrator and her grandmother, both of whom are named Julia. The narrative revolves around their relationship and the narrator’s internal conflict as she resents having to take care of her old silent grandmother, while still feeling connected to her and needing her advice.

Other characters mentioned in the story include the narrator’s parents and her boyfriend, Johnny. Johnny plays an especially important role, since the pressure he puts on the narrator triggers one of the main conflicts in the story. The narrator’s parents are also relevant to the plot, as her father’s infidelity may have caused the narrator to become disillusioned about love and relationships. 

You can read a full characterization of the narrator and some reflections on the relationship between the narrator and her grandmother in the following pages.