Why gravy and cranberry juice? Thinking Thanksgiving? Bowen suggests it brings to mind the image of “very humdrum, average meals. If you are unfortunate enough to become a Flimsy, you don't even get to carry the stains of exotic food and wine.”

Once he was defeated, "all the people that Snodrog had transformed [into flimsies] found themselves standing in the road outside his house the next morning. By a curious coincidence, they were the very people whose bed slats he had stolen, so they tore down the house...(76-7)." This parade of former flimsies contains a number of familiar faces to both Bellairs and the Fitschens. Marilyn says Bellairs never suggested putting people they knew in the parade and was "pleased at his own cameo appearance" which he never saw until the book was published. The characters continue to march onward onto page 78, though most of those names and faces are now forgotten - probably faculty at the University of Chicago, Marilyn guesses. For the record, the bar that Sir Bertram and the Shuffly visit was probably the Woodlawn Tap, or Jimmy's, the unofficial University of Chicago hangout.

Romy Fitschen Daughter of Dale and Marilyn perched on her father's shoulders	Dale Fitschen
Bob Byrne Best man at Dale and Marilyn's wedding	Bernie Markwell
Marilyn Fitschen	John Bellairs
John Morriarty Roommate of Dale and John Bellairs in Chicago	W. C. Fields
Joe Somoza Friend of Dale and Marilyn	Jill Somoza Friend of Dale and Marilyn
Saint Fidgeta	Joe A person everyone knew but not very well, says Marilyn
Dr. Dwight Ingle Marilyn's boss at the University of Chicago Department of Physiology	The Cookie Cutter Of course, Snodrog's victim from page 9