Isis Watts

Isis Watts is the protagonist of the story. She is an 11-year-old African-America girl who lives in a relatively rural part of Florida. She lives with her widowed father, her domineering grandmother, and her older brother Joel. Isis’s personality is heavily defined by a sense of general excitement and extroversion. One of her favorite activities is watching the road in front of her home and waving to passersby. She often daydreams about being wealthy and glamorous and venturing out beyond the house. Isis often clashes with her grandmother, who constantly scolds Isis for being so energetic and not focusing on daily exigencies such as household chores.

On the day in which the story takes place, Isis sees a parade passing by, and she joins the parade after dressing herself in her grandmother’s tablecloth. Isis dances and happens to attract the attention of a white family...