Frank Ambrose is a minor character in Restart, and is the father of Chase. In the story, he is depicted as a spry, middle-aged man that has a passion for the Hiawassee Hurricanes and is seemingly obsessed with his sons football glory in middle school, while downplaying Chase's previous bullying of Joel Weber.
Appearance[]
Frank is described as being a spry, energetic, middle-aged man with thinning hair in the first chapter of the book.
History[]
Chapter 1[]
Frank makes his first appearance when Chase returns home from the hospital, seemingly downplaying his son's amnesia by giving him a crushing bear hug. He then proceeds to lecture his ex-wife on how "Ambrose men can take a few licks" and calling his oldest son (Johnny) a wimp in this process. He also disagrees with his ex-wife on whether chase should rest or not, encouraging Chase about football despite the fact that he couldn't do it for the rest of the year.
Chapter 5[]
Frank makes his next appearance in Chapter 5, where he drives to the park in which Chase, Helene, and Corinne are present, saying he's bringing home "the biggest steaks you've ever seen." He then sees Chase, and questions why he isn't at football practice. When Chase reminds him about the doctor's orders, Frank tells him that his arm is fine, and says that doctors "Will keep you in bubble wrap for the rest of your life if you let them." He asks if Chase would want steak for dinner that night. When Chase tells him about the championship picture he saw on the Principal's wall, he talks with Chase about his past glories for a short time. He then leaves the playground.
Chapter 8[]
Frank's third appearance is in Chapter 8, during the football game between the Hiawassee Hurricanes and East Norwich. Chase was recording the game (he had joined the video club in an earlier chapter), much to his father's dismay. He then starts complaining about the game, likely due to the bad condition of the Hurricanes without Chase. He also asks Chase once again why he isn't playing football. After a throw by Joey Petronus which resulted in a touchdown for East Norwich, Frank would launch a "diatribe" against the hurricanes according to Chase.
Chapter 14[]
Frank appears in Chapter 14 in a new Mustang with Chase. After having a brief conversation with Chase about Helene, he tells chase about a sports medicine specialist named Dr. Nguyen who could offer a "second opinion," and get Chase playing football again, also dissuading Chase from telling his mother.
Chapter 21[]
Frank makes a two separate appearances in Chapter 21 when he is picking Chase up from school, after Chase went along with the lie that his friends Aaron and Bear told the Principal about the Attack on the Hiawassee band room, telling Chase that he "read between the lines" and congratulated him. He then appeared again after Chase was cleared to play football again by Dr. Nguyen, and rails against Dr. Cooperman for keeping Chase "off the gridiron for no real reason." After telling Chase more about how the Hurricanes will improve upon his return, he talks about how he was glad that the "Old Chase" was back and would even go so far as to say he was proud of the way Chase handled Joel Weber, saying that he "made a statement" and questioning why Chase is upset that "a bunch of sissies (kids from the Video Club) are ticked off at him." He then tells Chase to go to football practice upon arriving home.
Chapter 29[]
Frank his last two appearances in Chapter 29, when he is filming Chase playing with Helene, stating that they could show this at Chase's hearing to prove that he is a good big brother and to have him return to football. After talking with Chase for a little bit, his tone actually changes, telling Chase that he appreciates his new personality despite missing the old one, and that he did the right thing in returning Mr.Solway's Medal of Honor. Later on, at Chase's hearing, he delivers a testimony which reiterated that he was proud of getting to know Chase how he was after his fall, and stating that "Getting to know my son the way he is now, I wished someone had pushed me off a roof when I was 13." This was his last appearance.
Personality[]
Frank has a big-man on campus mentality, similar to that of Chase before the accident. During the book, he is passionately obsessed with his son's return to football, and even seemingly liked Chase's old personality better. However, towards the end of the book, Frank's personality towards Chase changes, in which he began to appreciate Chase's new personality and better mentality. He likely also favors Chase, due to him seemingly thinking that Johnny is a "wimp."