Who's Who is DSU: Harry Smith

Harry Smith

---

Harry Smith made his only appearance when he was featured in the short story "THREE MINUTES!". Wasting his life by being obsessed with time and staying exactly on schedule, Smith thought he beat Father Time by waking up three minutes before his alarm went off. His subsequent car accident, which killed the life of an innocent girl, caused him to lose "it", and he was captured by the Soul Patrol

Character Biography

Harry Smith had been a struggling vacuum cleaner salesman since the 1970's. He barely made his quotas, never made waves, was a law-abiding citizen, and lived alone in a Maryland apartment. His suits didn't fit, and he accepted doors being slammed in his face on a constant basis. Smith never showed any emotion, and was apparently content with the "security" of being a cog in the machine.

However, Smith actually had an obsessive compulsive disorder, which forced him to maintain a set schedule of his boring and monotonous activities. His entire daily routines were timed to his set schedule, with no deviations.

An unspecified time ago, the sun had awakened him on a Wednesday morning, and he shut the alarm clock off three minutes before it rang. Speaking aloud he claimed to have beaten "Father Time himself". He actually expressed emotion by snickering at his "victory".

On his way to a potential client, a five-year old girl ran in front of his car, and she was killed instantly. The courts found him guilty of manslaughter, but he had become a madman and was unable to stand trial. He was held at the McNamara Institute for the Psychologically Impaired, where he would laugh uncontrollably and shout "THREE MINUTES!"

The Soul Patrol picked him up and apparently placed him under the care of The Auctioneer. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Creators' Comments

DAMIAN SAYS:

"Harry Smith served his purpose well: excellent fodder for the Soul Patrol, sympathetic back-story, and showed the absurdity of the world. Has a Twilight-Zone feel."

Memorable Quotes

"Now I have three minutes. I have three minutes extra today. I have bested Father Time himself."

Trivia

Damian chose the bland name 'Harry Smith' because the character represented John Q. Public.

Three Minutes! is part of The Velvet Mask, available in book form as a hard cover and/or PDF download.