If It Bleeds

Craig is the protagonist and narrator of “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.” Craig tells the story as an adult, looking back on his childhood from a mature perspective. The adult Craig works as a journalist for an Albany newspaper called the Times Union.

The young Craig grows up in the small town of Harlow, Maine. He is an industrious and proactive young man, as signaled by his willingness to volunteer as a reader at the local Methodist church, where his skill leads to a job reading for Mr. Harrigan. Craig isn’t shy around his elderly employer, making frequent attempts to transform their employer–employee relationship into a friendship. When Craig wins $3,000 from one of the lottery tickets Mr. Harrigan sends him on holidays, he does not hesitate to buy Mr. Harrigan an iPhone as a sign of his gratitude.

Craig is a millennial who comes of age in the dawn of the smartphone era. When the iPhone is first announced, Craig becomes eager to have one. This points to his impulsive nature, which is exacerbated when his father buys him one for Christmas. Craig’s desire to get Mr. Harrigan an iPhone is another sign of his impulsiveness, especially since Craig’s father warns him that Mr.