Alison is the youngest child of Lauren, the English professor, and Theadore, who runs the local supermarket. She adores her father, and the feeling is mutual, but there’s an undeniable tension beneath the surface. Theadore is a bit of a chauvinist, despite his wife’s successful academic career. While he allows Alison to work at the supermarket, he treats it more like a way for her to earn pocket money than a real job. He’d much rather see her older brother, Barry, take over the family business, but Barry has little interest in following in his father’s footsteps.
At the supermarket, Alison likes to think she’s in charge when her father isn’t around, often bossing around Haylee as if she runs the place. But this is just a glimpse of her inner self trying to break free — in truth, Alison is more of a follower than a leader.
This tendency is reflected in her academic choices as well. She enrolled in humanities and creative courses, following the exact same path as her best friend, Kirsten. When it came to extracurriculars, Alison chose acting over dance, once again mirroring Kirsten’s decision.
However, Alison has recently taken a step that surprised everyone — including herself. She signed up to train as a lifeguard at the fitness center, a decision that came after some gentle encouragement from her mother. Theadore wasn’t thrilled with the idea, considering it unnecessary and a distraction, but he reluctantly agreed after Lauren convinced him it would teach Alison responsibility.
Though she enjoys the illusion of control at work, Alison’s choices often reflect a deeper uncertainty about who she really is — a girl still trying to find her own voice while standing in someone else’s shadow. But perhaps, with this new venture, Alison is taking her first tentative steps toward discovering who she wants to be.