Tom, the novel’s protagonist, is 13 years old and is an energetic, decisive, yet thoughtful and intelligent boy. He is also an excellent friend, as shown in his devotion to Pipkin.

Tom is the principal character among the eight boys who pursue Pipkin on the Halloween journey. Bradbury emphasizes Tom’s importance by having him act in decisive moments, like suggesting that the boys explore the haunted house and checking on Pipkin after they return home. Tom is also the first to volunteer to make the sacrifice to save Pipkin. By taking the initiative, Tom is like a leader among the boys. Bradbury often makes Tom’s thoughts, reflections, and reactions central to the narrative. For instance, the fact that Tom grasps the uniqueness and value of the Mexican Day of the Dead illustrates his perceptiveness.

Tom’s surname, Skelton, is significant. It sounds like “skeleton,” which is what Tom’s friends often jokingly call him. Fittingly, Tom chooses a skeleton costume for Halloween. The fact that Tom, whose very surname suggests Halloween, has clothed himself with bones relates to the central theme of The Need to Recognize Mortality.