Michael Foster is a tall, long legged man. He is most likely in his 20s, judging by the fact that he is described as being young, and he doesn’t have children. He is an ambitious small-town reporter. He is determined “to go to the city some day and work on an important newspaper” (1). In the story he meets a hangman named Smitty; who is scheduled to execute a man from Michael’s town. Michael’s fear is that he’s afraid of being seen with the hangman and being judged for being associated with him. Even though he enjoyed being around Smitty “he couldn’t figure out why he felt so ashamed of himself [every time he was with Smitty]” (4). Michael most likely has a college education as he has a profession which would require one.