Leslie and Jess seem to balance one another out perfectly,
blending seamlessly into one harmonious friendship. What is it
that makes these two so compatible? What does their friendship
say about each of them, and what does their friendship
specifically say about friendship in general? Jess at one point
explains his friendship with Leslie by saying that "if there had
been anyone else at that durned school," she would not have had
to bother with him. In fact, the reader can see that Jess is
doing himself an injustice in saying this. Both Jess and Leslie
have individual characteristics that the other person responds
to. Leslie is well read, imaginative, courageous, and self-
assured. Jess is intelligent, but not particularly well
educated, practical, kind, and compassionate. There is an
overlap between them—this is not to say that Leslie is unkind,
or Jess is unimaginative—but these are the main traits which
distinguish each of them. Together, they make a perfect pair.
This says a lot about the need to appreciate