1. Who has been more successful Bob or Jimmy? 2. How does Bob describe Jimmy--strengths and weakness? 3. Based on his actions, describes Bob...

Bob has only been superficially more successful than Jimmy. Bob has some flashy clothes and accessories, but he has no home, no family, no friends (except Jimmy), no roots, and he is continually on the lam. He is wanted by the Chicago police and may be facing a long term in jail. Jimmy does not make a lot of money, but he has a secure job with the New York police and will get a...

Bob has only been superficially more successful than Jimmy. Bob has some flashy clothes and accessories, but he has no home, no family, no friends (except Jimmy), no roots, and he is continually on the lam. He is wanted by the Chicago police and may be facing a long term in jail. Jimmy does not make a lot of money, but he has a secure job with the New York police and will get a pension when he retires. Jimmy undoubtedly is married and has a home and family. He obviously likes his work. He is proud of his uniform. He is respected. He probably has a wide circle of friends. He has no serious worries, unlike Bob who is always looking over his shoulder for fear that the law is catching up with him. Bob brags and shows off the symbols of his monetary success, but he is not a happy man. He travels a thousand miles just to see his only friend--and finds out that his friend can no longer be his friend because he has become a cop who turns him over to the Chicago police. For twenty years the two men have traveled down two different roads.

Bob describes Jimmy with these phrases--not knowing he is talking to Jimmy in person:

"...for he always was the truest, staunchest old chap in the world."

"He was a kind of plodder, though, good fellow as he was."

Based on Bob's actions, the reader pictures him as a flamboyant, materialistic, ambitious, loquacious, superficial, and dishonest con artist who has cultivated a friendly persona he uses to beguile and manipulate people. He starts off trying to manipulate Jimmy the moment he appears, never giving him a chance to introduce himself as the old friend Bob has been waiting for. Bob might be described in the vernacular as "a cheap crook."