Sepha Stephanos

Sepha Stephanos is the protagonist of the novel. He is an Ethiopian immigrant who came to the U.S. after he watched his father be brutally executed by the new government in Ethiopia.

His father's death haunts him, and it is only until he can forgive himself for his possible part in his father's death (Sepha was affiliated with an anti-communist group) that he is able to move on. Now in America for more than 17 years, Stephanos owns a small convenient store where his friends, Ken and Joe come to visit with him each week.

Ken and Joe are also both from Africa. They all met one another while working at a hotel as valets. Sepha's Uncle Berhane had gotten him the job when he first arrived in America.

Stephanos struggles with a sense of who he is. Is he Ethiopian? Is he American? Is he both...