In the story "Charles" ，Laurie shows his personality by describing the character "Charles." Laurie is smart and creative, using "Charles" to hide his own bad actions at school. For example, when he says "Charles" hit the teacher or shouted loudly, he is really talking about himself. But his parents believe the story about another child. Laurie says, "Today Charles was bad again. He told a little girl to say a bad word, and the teacher washed her mouth with soap." By telling these stories in the third person, Laurie shifts attention away from himself and even enjoys telling his parents about "Charles's" bad actions.
Laurie's made-up stories also show his rebellious nature and dislike of authority. He describes "Charles" being punished for not following rules, saying, "Charles wanted to color with green crayons, so he hit the teacher. The teacher slapped him and made him stand in the corner." This shows that Laurie wants to express himself but does so in a way that disrespects the teacher. The character "Charles" allows him to act like a "bad kid" without facing the real consequences of his actions.