<Li> Ruth McBride Jordan: mother of 12 children and the second narrator </Li> <Li> Hudis Shilsky aka Mameh: Ruth's mother . Despite being crippled on the left side of her body, still managed to be a loyal wife and good mother . </Li> <Li> Fishel Shilsky aka Tateh: Ruth's father . Tateh was a terrible husband in many aspects such as fidelity and love . Fishel also happened to be a rabbi, who would get in bed with his daughters . He even mocked his own wife, Mameh, in public for being a cripple . </Li> <Li> Gladys "Dee - dee" Shilsky: Ruth's sister . It is revealed that Dee - dee was the only sibling of Ruth's that was born in America . Often, Ruth would say that she was jealous of her because she didn't have to deal with the negative stigma towards Jews like Ruth did . </Li>

Ruth's father in the color of water