Jack Townsend

Traumatic Brain Injury

Amputated Pinkie on his left hand

Amputated right leg from the knee down

Seizures

Rosa Vasquez (Alive)

Vanessa Riggin (Deceased)

Benjamin/Benji (Alive)

Sabine (Deceased)

(Formerly) Carlos/Antonio (Deceased)

Multiple Foster Families (Unknown Statuses)

Brian Locke (Deceased)

Carlos/Antonio (Deceased)

Brother Riley (Presumed Deceased)

Multiple Kieffers

Leland Cruz

Spencer Middleton

The real Benjamin

Agatha Sistrunk

## General

Jack Townsend is the main protagonist of Tales from the Gas Station. He is presumably chronic insomniac, and he’s works as the central full-time employee. Jack is trusted greatly by the owners of the gas station, so much so they ultimately leave ownership of it to him. He bears first-hand witness to most of the weird things that happen within the gas station, and he uses the long stretch of time without customers to document his findings in a blog.

## Personality

As described by his therapist Dr. V, "*Jack, you have a hyper-logical approach to dealing with grief. I worry that you may have already shut down emotionally as a way of coping with your impermanence. You aren't dead yet, but sometimes you act like you don't know it.*”

Jack is generally an easy-going person with a remarkable ability to mind his own business. From readings, Jack seems to be fairly intelligent, even if he doesn't believe himself to be. It's not as if he was ever praised for his behaviors or skills, in fact, it seems he was often shamed by people in his early life for wanting to learn. This belief is further exemplified because of his struggles in day-to-day tasks.

Jack has a passionate love for reading as a both a personal hobby and way to pass time amidst long periods without rest.

He thinks extremely literally, often latching onto the first thought that comes across his mind when in conversation. While not shy about asking for clarification, he can often phrase questions in an overly blunt way or rude way.

He has a tendency to be easily irritated with others, especially if they happen to be strangers or not close or relative. He's somewhat socially awkward, but is self-aware about it. He's completely oblivious to overt romantic overtures.

Jack is likely on the autism spectrum.

Jack occasionally has issues thinking quickly or well in situations where such is required. Once a plan is in place, he has no problems following through with it decisively, and has demonstrated the capacity to step up into a leadership role.

He displays an impressive unwavering commitment once he's set his mind to something, such as keeping his eyes shut for perceived months against the demon Sagoth, or staying in the gas station to fight dozens of Benja-mimics despite the strain on his mental health. He has impressive will-power.

He's dedicated to his friends to such an extent that he's willing to sacrifice himself for them. He's demonstrated extreme bravery even in the face of death.

## Conditions and Injuries

### Fatal Familial Insomnia (Perceived)

Jack suffers from Fatal Familial Insomnia. His condition makes him prone to forgetfulness, disorientation, delusion, and hallucination. He is also incapable of passing out, being knocked unconscious, or being medically put under. He came to terms with his condition early, and is now indifferent about his impermanence.

**The next paragraphs contains spoilers.**

### REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

It was revealed by Dr. Vicedomini in the third book that Jack doesn’t have FFI, but instead has REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and sleeps more than the average person. He enters the lightest possible stage of REM sleep, and acts out his dreams. He retains enough awareness of what's happening in reality that neither he nor the people around him have any reason to believe he's asleep.

### Broken Leg and Amputation

Jack broke his leg for the first time after being beaten by Spencer and thrown down a hole. He was given crutches and a leg cast that went above his knee.

He likely breaks his leg a second time when the Dark God drops him after dragging him through the earth.

Presumably a third time when a group of townspeople attack him and Jerry at the gas station, the leader breaking his leg.

He woke up in the hospital after having it amputated due to prior attack infection.

His pinkie was also crudely amputated later on by Spencer Middleton during an attack.

### Seizures

During Book 4, Jack Townsend finds a file that reveals he has had multiple seizures throughout his life.

## History

**This section contains spoilers.**

His father, Miller Townsend, was extremely physically abusive, neglectful and emotionally abusive. Jack mentioned that his father had taken him to his first Klan rally when he was 3, broke his arm and 3 of his toes when he was 7, also refusing to take him to the hospital, resulting in him having to hitchhike. At one point, his father even threw him out of a moving car because he couldn't stop hiccuping. Little is known about Jack's Mother.

Jack went to the same schools as Spencer Middleton, in the graduating class behind his. Kieffer also went to his high school several years earlier. He was a very violent child, usually resorting to violence whenever he believed it to be necessary, (Punching a girl who shoved her hand down his pants, beating a guy who tried to steal his lunch). He also had a history of killing animals, (Tearing off the wings of bugs and killing rats that found his room’s stash of food).

It's not known when he was put into foster care, but he grew up with foster brothers and foster sisters. Their foster mother left them the house, but all of Jack's brothers and sisters moved on away from the town, leaving him the sole occupant of the house.

Jack was presumably diagnosed with Fatal Familial Insomnia as a teenager.

He began working at the gas station right after graduating from high school.

Through high school, he had a girlfriend named Sabine, the daughter of the owners of the gas station. However, near the onset of his insomnia, the pair of them experienced a car crash. He speculates he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, but in Book 4 it is revealed that they had actually been in an argument, and Jack- while not looking at the road- had crashed the car. Deputy Tom informed him he was likely was bumped off the road by another car. Jack believes he has not slept since. Since then, Sabine had been in a Coma and Passed away.

Later, it's revealed that his belief is incorrect. In actuality, he has REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and sleeps more than normal people. He demonstrates enough awareness that neither he nor the people around him have any reason to suspect he's dreaming.

## Appearance

* Caucasian
* Pale or lightly tanned skin
* Messy black hair "in need of a haircut"
* Underweight
* Smaller stature than average - scrawny and weak looking
* Generally looks younger than he is
* Dark bags under his eyes at all times
* Green eyes
* Missing smallest finger, left hand
* Prosthetic leg, right, knee-down

## Trivia

* Jack has been asked by the city council not to talk about the gas station online, but he continues to anyway.
* He has terrible handwriting.
* He still has one baby tooth.
* In school, he was usually at the top of his class.
* He was strangely advanced as a child- In multiple ways, excluding athletic.
* Built his own computer once as a child
* Generally terrible at metaphors
* He's not a gun guy, but often finds himself in possession of a gun anyway.
	+ In fact, the first time he used a gun, he threw it at his attacker instead of shooting it. Surprisingly, he hit his target.
* As voiced by Mr.Creepypasta, Jack has a generally flat or monotone voice.

1. ↑ Tales From the Gas Station: Part 2