Tuesday Charles Character Analysis in Monday’s Not Coming

Tuesday is Monday’s little sister; she’s supposed to be starting kindergarten in the “Before” timeline. Claudia begins to suspect that something is amiss when she runs into Tuesday in public and notices that Tuesday smells like urine. Whenever Claudia sees Tuesday, Tuesday offers cryptic clues that suggest Monday is still at home. After the authorities find Monday and August’s bodies, Tuesday is placed in a psychiatric ward, suggesting that living with Mrs. Charles’s abuse deeply traumatized her. When Claudia speaks to April at the end of the “After” timeline, April shares that Tuesday is doing better and is finally in school.

Tuesday Charles Character Timeline in Monday’s Not Coming

The timeline below shows where the character Tuesday Charles appears in Monday’s Not Coming. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Growing Up, Independence, and Friendship Theme Icon

...Monday here, Claudia feels self-conscious. The bell rings. Claudia doesn’t see Monday’s siblings, August and Tuesday, either. (full context)

Family, Community, and Responsibility Theme Icon

Poverty, Social Support, and Desperation Theme Icon

...her excitement. After a few clicks, Ms. Clark says Monday isn’t registered. Neither August nor Tuesday are registered, either. When Ms. Clark asks if the family moved, Claudia notes that Mrs.... (full context)

...drugs. The girls buzz at each other as Ma greets April, who stayed with baby Tuesday while the girls went trick-or-treating. Ma touches Tuesday’s cheek with a faraway look in her... (full context)

...that Monday is with her dad, since she never talked about him. He left after Tuesday was born. It doesn’t make sense why Monday is there without her siblings—or why they... (full context)

...people’s drinks. As Claudia sees little kids running in circles, she thinks of August and Tuesday. She grabs some crayons and some paper to entertain the little kids. She misses Monday,... (full context)

...Claudia steps into the restaurant, she bumps into April. Daddy greets April happily and little Tuesday comes out from behind April to hug Claudia. As Claudia embraces the little girl, she... (full context)

...this,” and says she’ll play along: Monday is at her aunt’s. Claudia, confused, says that Tuesday said Monday was at home. April stops cold and snarls at Claudia to leave Tuesday... (full context)

Ms. Valente says that Mrs. Charles wouldn’t let her in, but she saw a little girl—Tuesday—in dirty underwear. She called 911, but apparently social services has seen Monday and believes she’s... (full context)

...the man explains that the “city passed the legislation.” Monday points to April, standing with Tuesday and August. (full context)

...glances over to a group of boys near the courts. She tells Monday to take Tuesday back to the house, but Monday looks to the boys and says, “don’t.” Claudia is... (full context)

...seems skeptical when April says she was asleep, and tells April to come help with Tuesday. April leaves and closes the door. Shuddering, Claudia bumps into a book: Flowers in the... (full context)

...get out. She remembers Monday saying she snuck out of the bathroom window—and realizes that Tuesday left the bedroom door open. Claudia tiptoes out, stuffs Flowers in the Attic into her... (full context)

...the drop to the trash cans, but she starts to climb anyway. Then, Claudia notices Tuesday in the hallway, staring. After a moment, April and Mrs. Charles call for Tuesday. Tuesday... (full context)

...is comforting him when they didn’t bother to look for Monday. The police question April, Tuesday, neighbors, and school officials. Eventually, they figure it out. August has been dead for a... (full context)

Memory, Repression, and Trauma Theme Icon

...Doris explains that April is having a hard time. She also says that she visited Tuesday in the hospital yesterday. Tuesday asked for Mrs. Charles and wanted to know when Monday... (full context)

...would’ve been split up. With the eviction notices, April needed a plan. Claudia spits that Tuesday is “one step away from being one of them crazies on the Metro,” so she’s... (full context)

...never stopped looking for Monday. The buzzing resumes in Claudia’s ears as she asks about Tuesday. April says she’s better. They’re both in therapy now, and Tuesday’s back in school. Claudia... (full context)

...that August kept touching girls and beating up his sisters. When she caught him biting Tuesday, she bit him and hit him back. She choked him until he died and told... (full context)