Ricky

Ricky is a character in For my little brother. He is befriended by Garrett, the protagonist in the story, and is his closest non-familial friend. In the novel, he is arrested after attempting to rob a grocery store in a desperate attempt to find food for his siblings.

Background
Ricky is the second-born child in his family, succeeding his older sister Analyn and preceding his younger brother Joel. His sister is two years older than he is, while Joel is seven years younger.

At the age of four, Ricky's mother gave birth to a stillborn daughter, and came close to dying in the process. While she was able to recover, his father was shaken badly by the incident, and began to view children as a burden. His father began drinking, smoking, and abusing his family members. Both Analyn and Ricky dropped out of school in order to find work.

On Joel's fourth birthday, his mother attempted to flee the house, along with her three surviving children. His father, angered by the decision, lashed out with a bolo: "My mother was about to set foot out the door when my father grabbed a bolo knife and raised it up in the air, ready to strike. My sister quickly got in front of mother to protect her, I quickly got in front of my sister." Ricky took the first blow of the machete, which cut across his left cheek, leaving a scar that "began at his ear, stretching across his face before stopping just short of the mouth." After a narrow escape from being killed by his father, he and his family are eventually able to get away.

Ricky, his mother, and his siblings were forced to live on the streets, fending for themselves. His mother later dies, leaving the three all alone. Ricky, desperate to feed his siblings, began to take bigger risks in order to find their basic amenities, often being confronted by people older and bigger than him as a result. Eventually, he attempts to rob a grocery store, but is unsuccessful and is arrested as a result.

Relationship with Garrett
Ricky's first encounter with Garrett does not start out smoothly; as Ricky was already devastated by his loss, he preferred being left alone, and became cross when Garrett persists. However, Garrett remains patient as he shares his story, enabling Ricky to open up and to share his own background. Garrett and Ricky quickly become close friends, and this closeness enables Ricky to be exposed to Christianity, enables Garrett to focus on something other than his little brother, and enables the two to heal and bond together despite their situation.