Slam

Alicia Burns is the novel’s deuteragonist and Sam’s love interest. Alicia and Sam are introduced to one another by their parents at a party at Alicia’s house. Sam finds Alicia on the couch sulking and staring at her phone, hating the fact that she has to be there. It is a telling moment that showcases Alicia’s general attitude toward life, as Sam observes that she rarely does anything other than watch TV and lie in bed. Still, Sam likes Alicia and thinks she’s pretty, and the two quickly find themselves in a relationship. When Sam and Alicia sleep together, Alicia becomes pregnant and decides she is going to keep the pregnancy. Sam has no choice but to go along with it, but when he sees his future as a frazzled and horrible father, he becomes terrified and runs. Despite her flaws, Alicia never runs from her problems, instead facing them head on. She is patient with Sam as he comes to terms with what is happening and endures labor bravely. Alicia remains loyal to Sam and defends him to her parents, and when Rufus is born, she makes sure that his last name is Sam’s. Even though Sam and Alicia’s relationship does not last forever, Sam learns that it still held meaning, and feels grateful for Alicia’s refusal to judge him for his mother’s past. Sam foresees a future in which he and Alicia remain good friends and co-parents.

Sam’s mother is a central character and an important part of Sam’s growth, providing him with the support he needs in Navigating Teenage Parenthood. She stands by her son, and because she has experienced teenage parenthood herself, she already knows much of what he is likely to encounter. Sam’s mum had him when she was 16, and she and Sam’s father attempted to make their relationship work for almost a decade before divorcing. Sam’s mum sometimes feels ashamed of being a teenage parent and is reluctant to mention him when she meets men. Sam sometimes feels as though his mother blames him for the way her life turned out, but he knows that her own decisions led to this particular result. When Sam first starts dating Alicia and spending most of his time with her, she warns him about How a Few Seconds Can Change Everything, but Sam ignores her warnings. She initially reacts with disappointment and sadness to the news of Alicia’s pregnancy, but then becomes a source of support for both Alicia and Sam. She never abandons or shames Sam for making the same mistake that she made.

Robert and Andrea Burns are Alicia’s parents. They are slightly antagonistic characters who oppose Alicia and Sam’s relationship and their decision to keep the pregnancy. When Sam first meets Alicia’s parents, he sees them as snobby and judgmental. Andrea and Robert question Sam’s goals and intentions toward his own future, disapproving of his desire to go to art college. They assume that because Sam’s mother had him when she was 16 that Sam is carrying along a poisonous legacy, and they do everything they can to prevent him from bringing it into their family. They spend weeks trying to convince Alicia to have an abortion, and when that fails, they resort to what Sam sarcastically calls “Making An Effort” by attempting to include him in their lives (191). They agree to let Sam live with them when the baby is born, and start to show small improvements, but who they are deep down never really changes. When Alicia goes into labor, Andrea is supportive and stays with her through the entire process, providing calming music and guiding Alicia and Sam. However, after Rufus is born, Andrea initiates an argument with Sam’s mother about Rufus’s last name, illustrating that she still harbors prejudice toward Sam’s family. Alicia sticks up for Sam and insists that Rufus will have his last name.

Sam’s dad is a static character who is defined largely by his absence. When he is around, he and Sam’s mum constantly argue, illustrating why Sam’s parents divorced in the first place. Sam’s dad is willing to be in Sam’s life, but Sam has a negative view of his father and doesn’t believe that he adds any value to his life. He also feels his father is uninterested in being a part of his life, although it is clear from his father’s actions that that is not entirely the case, as he always shows up when he is called. When Sam finally takes Rufus to meet his grandfather, he is surprised to find that his dad actually has some valuable words of wisdom for him about his complicated relationship with Alicia. Sam’s dad reminds Sam that teenage relationships are often short-lived; with a baby involved, the odds of success are even lower. He tells Sam about his own experience being a parent at a young age, describing how little time he and Sam’s mum had to know one another before their focus shifted to raising their new child. Their conversation leads Sam to the conclusion that it is okay for him to leave Alicia, and that he can still be a decent father.