Character Analysis
Here's what we know about the Doorman: he's a seventeen-year-old, stinky Rottweiler-German shepherd who loves coffee. This unlikely companion is Ed's one and only housemate and partner in crime. Actually he just sits at home, but that's where Ed is most of the time, so the Doorman's super involved in our main man's life. And this is one pup who's much more than just a smelly old pet.
He used to be Ed's dad's dog, and he holds a special place in Ed's heart because he's almost as old as he is. The Doorman's been around pretty much Ed's whole life, and he is there for Ed to talk to when no one else is—even if the Doorman doesn't talk back.
Here's the thing, though: the old dog does talk back to Ed (even if it is only in his mind). Check out how he interacts with Ed:
He smiles at me. "I love you, too," I say, and my voice is like a rumor. (2.2.22)
Even if Ed's unsure of the Doorman's affection for him (since he calls his response to his interpretation of the Doorman's grin "a rumor"), one thing's for sure: Ed loves that dog. They say dogs are man's best friend, and for Ed, that couldn't be more true. He's got a special relationship with his German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix because he's had him almost all his life, and his dog is with him through thick and thin. Can we say the same about anyone else? We definitely can't say that about the Doorman's former owner, Ed's dad.