Kate Bigman

A reed-thin, straight-haired, knock-kneed preteen, Kate spends all of her time trying to live up to an ideal of someone else’s devising. She also has an ardently romantic streak which lets her give herself over to idealistic missions and fits of purple prose in her dear diary.

An overachieving math and science student, Kate is nonetheless not charismatic: she’s a preteen Mary Tyler Moore. Even though she’s smarter than Bikini, she isn’t the leader she could be; thus, she’s Watson to Bikini’s Sherlock Holmes. Similarly, Kate’s idealism prevents her from seeing the world as it is, and from taking advantage of its opportunities.

Until Bikini came along, Kate was a fringe member of a conformist clique, obedient and unquestioning (although Kate herself is not snobbish or cruel). Once Bikini arrives, her style clashes broadly with that of Kate’s old friends.

Kate’s parents typify Middletown’s Stepford-style conformism. Both are driven professionals (Mom’s a lawyer/sports agent, Dad works in the financial markets), yet clueless when it comes to thinking for themselves. She has no siblings, so the raucous Bonini family opens a fascinating world to her.

Because Kate exists to please others, she risks losing herself to the abyss of Middletown’s Mary Tyler Moore-style goody-two-shoes mentality. But Bikini is unaware of these pressures, so she creates a space where Kate can continue to explore her independence without fear of rejection.

Mrs. Bigman

Kate’s “perfect” mother, she’s a PTA chairman and a country-club member, but not a critical thinker. Her redeeming qualities include a blind admiration for anything Kate does, and a complete dedication to her life as a cutthroat sports agent and attorney. Mike Ovitz meets Mary Tyler Moore.

Mr. Bigman

Kate’s father, very straight-laced. He’s a stockbroker who believes that the sun rises and sets on his little girl. But, other than that, he’s clueless. Kate can’t really count on him for help: he’s liable to see any crisis, no matter how small, only in terms of how it might affect the stock market the next day.