Reporter. Studied journalism in college. Conway never got around to finishing his master’s degree because he dropped out to join an IT firm. Conway moved to the big city and worked as a PR-man for a publicly traded new media company during the most frantic years of the tech bubble. As a result of the firm’s bankruptcy, Conway’s own finances went to pot, and he is still suffering from serious depression. During his time in the big city, Conway got his fill both of big city culture and of the small talk of all the results-oriented implementation strategy solution optimization architects and their ilk. Returning to his hometown and going to work for the local paper is at once a break from the past and an attempt to recover from all the lies and half-truths that he both manufactured and swallowed in his previous job.

Third-generation editor of the Wayside Gazette. Has been doggedly pushing back retirement for decades. The Gazette is a way of life—his work, his passion, his hobby. A true-blue local, devoted to community culture. Buffett has a crystal clear vision for his paper: “A local paper looks after its own house, the dailies and the television their own, and what they don’t get to, CNN reports. We do local news, and that should be enough.” And indeed, the paper does report comprehensively on goings on in the area, but doesn’t have much traffic with “foreign news”—like what’s going on in the neighboring county.

The newspaper’s secretary, bookkeeper, financial manager, fireman etc. An energetic woman of indeterminate age. The mother figure in the editorial office, who makes sure the “boys” have enough warm clothes on when they leave to follow a story, but also keeps the daydreamers in line if the ideas start to get too high-flown. Mrs. Likely is a very enigmatic person. No one knows anything about her or her personal life. This is fairly unique by Wayside standards. No one has ever seen “Mr. Likely.” When Editor-in-Chief Buffet is asked about her, he just mutters that, “in the early eighties Mrs. Likely just marched in and started work.” For understandable reasons, no one inquires any further, since over the years Mrs. Likely has made herself entirely irreplaceable.

Miles’ sweetheart. Patty is an English teacher who Miles was set up with by a childhood friend. Patty is a sensible and practical counterbalance to Miles’ creative and contemplative nature.

Miles' father. A workaholic, even though he has already retired from working for the railroad.

Miles' mother. A bank clerk who was laid off during the recession.

Miles’ old classmate. He enjoys gym sports and runs a small hardware store. Self-assured, social and well to-do. Karl is proud of having earned what he has himself. Karl believes that people make their own luck. A new Mercedes isn't showing off, it's just a small luxury to help you cope with putting your nose back to the grindstone.

Karl’s wife. She's proud of her office job and takes care of her looks by going to the gym. She values human relationships, luxury goods and the freedom that wealth bring her.

The Pastor is a good listener, but his problem is that no one listens to his worries. He is a bit clumsy in practical matters. The Pastor is a believer, but not in any bigoted way. He ended up in his career as a priest mostly out of a desire to help people.

A dentist and passionate collector. He inherited his wealth, including a huge mansion. Cash doesn't understand why a man and woman would move in together, since neither sex has ever awoken strong feelings in him.

A shiftless bachelor who once earned a living as an odd-job man on building sites, laying asphalt and clearing forest. Now a member of the long-term unemployed and living on state assistance, Thermosman still carefully packs a lunch every morning and goes to “work” hanging around the streets, squares, shopping malls, etc. Thermosman has a firm opinion about everything, which is usually only loosely based on facts. Even though he is getting on in years himself, he still lives with his mother, who dutifully cooks for her son, washes his clothes and makes sure he has a clean handkerchief along when he goes out.

A talkative bird.

A leader type who tries to control what the gang is up to. Strapping and proud of his muscles.

The gang's jokester, a wag liked by his pals and the girls. Spence doesn't worry much about anything but is still the most social of the boys and a genuinely warm person.

A serious guy, the kind who can concentrate for hours on things like disassembling and optimizing a computer. He prefers to handle his relationships with people online rather than through personal contact.