Jesse Staggs
Stencilographer/Stencilologist/Miracleworker
Jesse was first introduced to the Dead Pocket Station by Alex when he was apprehended stenciling graffiti on the outside of the DPS headquarters. Rather than reporting him to the authorities (Alex is always reluctant to get them involved), a deal was struck in which Jesse agreed to clean our fridge in exchange for a pardon.
The fridge cleaning earned him the nickname “Miracle” (which no one uses but Alex), the graffiti incident earned him the title “Stencilographer,” and his essay on Stencil Art in Eastern Romania during the 1960s earned him the moniker “Stencilologist.”
Jesse had traveled to Romania seven times during the research for his quite-lengthy (and factual) essay. During that time he met the unknown playwright, Gheorghe Felix Constantin, who became (and still is) his mentor. Constantin had a profound influence on Jesse’s pronunciation, his artistic style, his taste in western-era fashion, and his personal view on life. Constantin also inspired Jesse to dedicate the remainder of his life to the pursuit of the Perfect Stencil. Most academic authorities claim that the Perfect Stencil is a mathematical contradiction, an artistic impossibility, and a silly myth. Jesse remains convinced, regardless of the accepted academic view, that it is not only achievable, but once realized, quite simple to express.
After the lengthy Dead Pocket Application Essay Exam, the agonizing personal evaluation phase, the Dead Pocket Admittance Deterrent Pop Quiz, the repetitive approval, and the horrific indoctrination, Jesse now joins the Dead Pocket Station in a role we hope will be as entertaining for you as it has been for us.
Jesse has also been initiated into the secret Dead Pocket Society with the rank of Grunt-Level Class-B Hydrothermal Sub-Automaton (which means he’s still responsible for cleaning the fridge).