About Travis Dennard

People say he takes after his father, Everett Dennard, who owns In Tune. Given that and his skill with customers, conventional wisdom holds Travis will go to work at In Tune once he finishes his education. The only one who doesn’t agree is Travis. He wants to be part of a more dynamic environment, preferably in a larger city than Hartsend. It’s a dream in process, not something he tends to share.

‍

Appearance:‍

‍

Around Hartsend, Travis is considered to be one of the best looking guys in the Class of 1971. He’s above medium height, with a sinewy build. People meeting him for the first time tend to notice his prominent cheekbones and deeply set eyes. Girls at school embarrass him by debating  whether his eyes are brown or hazel.‍

‍

Dialogue Style: ‍

‍

Having a conversation with Travis can be a workout. He moves from one subject to another and then back again. The references he uses will depend on what he’s reading at the moment. He’s been known to throw in sports terms (generally football and basketball), Star Trek references, lyrics from rock songs, and classic Kentucky slang.‍

‍

Personality traits: ‍

‍

Affable, reserved, loyal. Travis projects an air of conviviality that can lead people to mistake him for an extrovert. As a rule, Hartsend’s social events make Travis feel drained. An exception would be small gatherings where he knows and feels comfortable with the people attending. You’d be likely to find Travis with a few of the people he trusts, like his cousin Jodie Cantrell or classmate Connor Rickes. He’s most at ease then. Travis has their backs, and he knows they’ve got his.‍

‍

Backstory: ‍

‍

Travis navigates a difficult situation because he’s gay. In 1970 Kentucky, relations between gay men were illegal. Gay men had to remain hidden to avoid police and social harassment, as well as potential legal trouble. Travis’ family members could also be subject to threats.

Hartsend schools leave sex education to the home. Typically, mothers talk with daughters and fathers with sons. Discussions tended to be short, emphasizing that sex should only take place between married people.

‍

‍Relationships:

‍

Connor Rickes: A classmate who is Travis’ boyfriend, although they work to keep their relationship under wraps for now. It’s not easy in a small town, but it’s necessary. Connor’s parents, who are part of Hartsend’s country club set, would break them up to avert a scandal.

‍

Jodie Cantrell: Travis and his cousin have been close since childhood. Jodie thinks of him as an older brother. Travis jokes that she’s ‘the little sister I didn’t need but got anyhow’. Jodie is the only relative whom Travis has told he’s gay.. She doesn’t completely understand what it means, but she doesn’t need to. Travis supported her when her father died. She’ll be there for him now.

‍

‍Motivations and Goals:

‍

Travis’ first priority is getting out of Hartsend. He’s been saving money from his job at In Tune. Besides that, he’s considered a strong candidate for a scholarship through Hartsend’s business community. He wants to attend the University of Louisville and major in public relations. Longer term, he’d like a job in media relations.

‍

Ideally, he and Connor would be in Louisville. Travis knows this is a long shot, but he can’t help thinking about it. The idea of them spending time together, away from Hartsend and its judgements, stays in his mind. It’s something he wants to work toward.

‍

Character Arc:‍

‍

At the beginning of the story, Travis is laser-focused on getting his scholarship and moving towards his new life. Complications occur after he learns Jodie is being terrorized by the person who murdered her best friend. By defending his cousin, Travis could put all of his plans for the future at risk. He needs to make tough decisions about what really matters to him.