Hector Zeroni
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| Holes character | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Hector Zeroni | |
| Camp Green Lake nickname | "Zero" |
| Family | Zeroni family |
| Relatives | Great-great-great grandmother Madame Zeroni, estranged mother (unnamed), Best friend, great-great-grandfather (unnamed). |
| Portrayed by | Khleo Thomas |
Hector "Zero" Zeroni is a character in the novel Holes. He is nicknamed "Zero" by the other boys in D-Tent because he does not talk much, and is so considered stupid. Despite that he is smallest of the group, he is the fastest digger than the other boys. Hector later mentions that he 'doesn't like answering their stupid questions'. Even it implies that he is extremely good at math, since he could quickly calculate how many letters are in the alphabet (on his first day of knowing them) or how many days are between May 27 to July 5. He is sent to Camp Green Lake for stealing a pair of shoes the day after the shoes fell on Stanley.
[edit] Plot
Zero is first seen in the D-Tent lying on the bed, not talking to any of the other boys. We later learn that Zero knows about the shoes that Stanley had stolen. The other boys are astounded that Stanley got Zero to talk. It is found out later how Zero knew about the stolen shoes.
Zero reveals that he cannot read (also homeless and orphaned with a missing mother) so he and Stanley come to an agreement: Zero will dig part of Stanley's hole and Stanley will teach Zero how to read. They become friends, and Zero reveals that his real name is "Hector Zeroni". Stanley does not at first realize what this entails, though the implication is that Hector is Madame Zeroni's descendant. One day Stanley notices an unusual rock formation far to the west. It looks like a thumb, and Stanley assumes this is what his great-grandfather meant by "God's thumb".
Eventually, the Warden discovers Stanley and Zero's arrangement. She is furious that Zero is helping Stanley with his hole. There is a confrontation (in which Zero smacks Pendanski with a shovel) and Zero runs away from the camp and the Warden orders all records relating to Zero removed to cover up his seemingly inevitable death. A few days later, Stanley escapes in search of Zero. He finds Zero hiding under a boat, eating a stew of fermented spiced peaches, which he calls Sploosh (the boat belonged to Sam the onion man, and the sploosh was Katherine Barlows' special spiced peaches); but Zero does not want to return to the camp. Instead, they decide to climb to the peak, to God's thumb. Zero is taken ill, however, and Stanley must carry him up. Stanley quietly sings the pig song as they climb. Eventually, the boys discover a natural water hole and a large bed of wild onions. They survive on the onions and water for about a week and a half (this was Sams' secret onion field).
During this time, Zero reveals that he stole Clyde Livingston's shoes, and it is his fault Stanley got sent to Camp Green Lake. When the commotion over their loss started, Zero abandoned the shoes. Zero later tried to steal another pair (from a Payless) and was caught and sentenced to the work camp.
The suitcase that had been found contains the belongings of Stanley Yelnats I, almost two million dollars in stock and jewels. Stanley and his family share the money with Zero, and they each become somewhat wealthy. However they also make a lot of money from the foot odor cure, Sploosh (which smells like spiced peaches), that Stanley's father invented. Zero is reunited with his mother, who has developed her own version of the pig lullaby.
