Jared Watt

Jared Watt owned and operated Van Slyke Pharmacy in San Atanasio, California. In addition to the usual patent medicines, shampoos, and school supplies, Watt sold brightly painted and rather ugly pottery artifacts, stuffed animals that resembled famous cartoon characters and shelves of secondhand books which reflected his eccentric personality. He had a bad haircut and funky glasses and like to wear pastel polyester shirts.

Early in the winter, the fourth year after the Yellowstone Supervolcano had erupted, Watt had to let his assistant go because she couldn't handle the work. Before he could post the job opening on Craigslist, Louise Ferguson came into the store looking for work. Watt immediately interviewed her, and decided to give her a try.