Camera

The narrator refers to the cameraman as "Camera" in the context of a county project on food stamps. The camera is such an integral part of him that when he hands it to Granddaddy Cain, he still holds his shoulder high as if the camera were still there. After Granddaddy intentionally damages the camera, the cameraman collects the pieces and cradles them "like he’s protecting a kitten from the cold."

Cameraman

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Cain

Granddaddy Cain is Granny’s husband, whom she always addresses as "Mister Cain" in accordance with rural Southern customs. Although he speaks only a few lines in the story, he performs its most dramatic action. Returning from hunting with a bloody chicken hawk over his shoulder, Granny asks him to get the cameramen to leave. Before doing so, he deals with the hawk’s attacking mate by throwing a hammer at it. Despite his calm demeanor, greeting the filmmakers with "Good day, gentlemen," Granddaddy Cain exudes a powerful presence. Cathy notes that he unsettles people because he is "tall and silent and like a king," and the narrator mentions that when he worked as a waiter on trains, he was always called "The Waiter," unlike his colleagues who were just "waiters." Granddaddy gestures for the camera, and the cameraman, flustered, hands it to him. With his large, skilled hands, he holds the camera in one and tears the top off with the other. He offers no explanation other than, "You standing in the misses’ flower bed . . . This is our own place," prompting the filmmakers to leave without further protest.

Cathy

Cathy is the most perceptive of the four children in the story. The narrator is impressed by her understanding of adult dynamics and family matters, such as "how come we move so much," even though she is a relatively new addition to the family. Cathy, the narrator’s third cousin, joined the family during a Thanksgiving visit. Although no further details about her background are provided, this implies that Cathy may have had a troubled past or a disrupted family life. Her aspiration to write a story positions her as the successor to the storytelling Granny and possibly the predecessor to the storywriting Bambara.

Filmmaker

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Granny

The narrator's grandmother, Granny, holds a pivotal role within the family. Her annoyance at the intrusive actions of the filmmakers forms the basis of the story's theme and conflict. Granny's interactions with the children, both in the narrative and the narrator's memories, highlight her significant role as a mentor, caretaker, and community guardian. Known for her fiery temper and low tolerance for condescending behavior, the family has relocated multiple times "on account of people drivin Granny crazy till she’d get up in the night and start packin’." Her anger towards the filmmakers leads her to mutter threateningly in the kitchen, causing the narrator to worry that she might "bust through that screen with somethin in her hand and murder on her mind." Granny is fiercely protective, akin to a chicken hawk defending its mate, yet she is also nurturing and insightful, teaching the children "steady with no let-up" and advising them against internal strife.

Narrator

The narrator is a young girl whose curious and attentive perspective guides the reader through the story's events. She admires her cousin Cathy, who possesses greater perceptiveness than she does. The narrator is also in awe of her grandparents, whose strength and affection form the family's foundation. Despite not fully comprehending everything she witnesses, her youthful viewpoint captivates the reader, offering insights that she herself only partially understands.

Smilin

"Smilin," as the narrator refers to him, handles most of the dialogue for the two filmmakers. He constantly smiles while explaining that they are documenting a county project on food stamps.

Terry

Terry is one of the twins living next door to the narrator, alongside his brother Tyrone. Terry often imitates Tyrone, prompting Cathy to remark that he "don’t never have anything original to say." Unlike Cathy and the narrator, Terry and Tyrone lack perceptiveness; instead, they engage in wrestling and ask enthusiastic questions.

Tyrone

Tyrone, Terry's twin brother, also lives next door to the narrator. Terry frequently mimics Tyrone, but neither boy shows the insight or perceptiveness of the narrator or their cousin Cathy.