Nub Flanders
(Age at beginning of series: 23)

Nub Flanders is an enigma. He is the son of a famous husband and wife, he a conductor, she an opera singer, both of them academics who teach at Cornish, an art school in Seattle. It was never easy living in the shadow of two such wildly talented, tempestuous people, so Nub turned inward. His parents couldn't believe this was the result of their union. Nub preferred to listen than to speak. Both his parents were happiest when everyone in the room was looking at them, and Nub couldn't stand being the center of attention. There's a Prozac kind of calmness about Nub. His house was always filled with the best and the brightest, and Nub was happy just to sit in the corner and observe, which made everyone feel uncomfortable. Much to his parents' dismay, he did not do well in school. He was always falling in love with someone. He went from one hopeless crush to another. Hopeless because he could never tell anyone about his feelings.

Nub shunned college and showed no interest in music, though he actually inherited a beautiful singing voice, unbeknownst to his parents. Unable to figure out what to do with their son, they told Nub that if he did not plan to continue with his education, then he'd have to get a job and find his way in the world. His parents hoped that he would find his niche in life, but they hadn't a clue as to what it could be.

Nub went off and worked several odd jobs--dishwasher, crossing guard, doorman--finally ending up on a fishing boat off the coast of Seattle. He arrived on the island four years ago when the fishing boat he was working on docked on the pier for the night. Nub went off to sleep under the stars and overslept. When he woke up, the boat was gone, and for no other reason than that, Nub stayed. He knew that if he was to stay here and make his own life, he couldn't let anyone know who his famous parents were. He made up a new name for himself, Nub for his first name--created from his initials, Nathaniel Umberto Barton--and Flanders for his last name, which had been the name of his pet rabbit.

Nub has become Brian's right-hand man/employee and believes that when Brian's plans are finally realized, he's going to be right there sharing in the glory. In his mind, he's in the enviable position of being in on the ground floor when this tourist explosion happens. He's the one person on this island that actually respects Brian, but unfortunately, Brian never sees it.

Nub always wears a wool cap and drives around in a battered van. He has a beautiful voice, but is shy about using it in public. He is the kind of guy who appreciates every sunset.