Raymond Jaffe is the main character of the novel. He is the son of a white mother and Black father and lives in his white stepfather Ed’s apartment of Ed. He has three younger, white sisters. Raymond’s father is a dentist who remarried a much younger woman, Neesha. Raymond believes, for good reason, that Ed and Neesha resent him; each interfere in his relationships with his mother and father. Of his sisters, only the toddler, Clarissa, gives him any attention other than taunting him.

Raymond is a consummate loner. The story begins with his only friend, Andre, moving to California. Raymond has a good heart, saving a stray cat from abuse and going to any lengths to assist the helpless Millie. Raymond carries a massive amount of undeserved guilt, constantly apologizing to anyone around him when anything goes wrong. He is tall, thin, and extremely uncomfortable in his body.

As the narrative progresses, Raymond experiences robust personal development. He learns to speak up for himself, develops an open relationship with both his parents, and overcomes his pervasive sense of dread. Raymond is asexual and comes to terms with the reality that being different is neither abnormal nor wrong.