Kevin Arnold

Living… amidst the turmoil of the late 1960s, in the most average suburb in America. As Kevin put it, looking back as an adult: “I guess most people think of the suburb as a place with all the disadvantages of the city, and none of the advantages of the country, and vice versa. But in a way, those really were the wonder years for us there in the suburbs. It was kind of a golden age for kids.”

Profession… student. Junior high has opened up a whole new can of worms. Gym isn’t even gym anymore, it’s “physical education.” Jock straps, showers, lockers – it all takes getting used to. As long as Kevin does well enough to keep his parents off his back, maybe they’ll let him get a part-time job soon. His dad is gruff, but even he will eventually have to listen to reason. Right?

Interests… girls, sports, and girls. The biggest change in junior high has definitely been sex education. Kevin and his best friend Paul snuck a couple of Playboys into Kevin’s room. You know, for homework. They never used to do things like that. Before, it was always playing sports or watching TV. Now girls come before everything else.

Relationship Status… single, and constantly frustrated. Kevin’s first kiss was with Winnie and he couldn’t have been more excited. But now she acts like it never even happened. Kevin is a walking billboard for the friend-zone. He wants to go with other girls, but mostly to make Winnie jealous. He won’t be able to shake her for a long time, if ever.

Challenge… finding his way through adolescence. If he’s to have any chance, it will be with Winnie and Paul by his side: “We were on our way. Our group was forming. And Winnie, I mean, Gwendolyn, was not chop liver. Who knows, maybe we even had an outside chance to become the cool seventh-grade group, if we could just remain inconspicuous until we picked up a few more members.”

Personality… good-natured and wide-eyed. Kevin is taking it all as it comes. Everything around him seems to be changing in ways he can’t necessarily understand. He can feel himself growing up, and yet he’s still under his father’s roof. Still, he knows that not every road is going to lead home anymore.