Character Analysis

Neil is Beth's much younger, on-again, off-again loser boyfriend. He graduated in 1961 and has apparently been hanging around Lightsburg for the last 12 years, doing nothing of significance with his life. "He's not the smartest guy in the world," Karl says. "Guess he couldn't subtract or something" (7.76). Nonetheless, he knows enough math to help Beth search the house for Karl's hidden jars of money.