Boy

The unnamed, little boy is one of the short story's primary characters. At two years old, the boy has "never watched TV or anyone watching TV" (3). For this reason, his parents' television "is vaguely mysterious to him" (3). Because he only ever sees the television when it is turned off, he does not understand its design or function. He notices its similarities to a mirror, but also notices how different it is from other reflective surfaces.

The first time that the little boy watches television, he is on his way to visit his grandparents in his father's country of origin. For the first half of the flight, the little boy is content to read his books, take naps, talk to his parents, and play with his puppets. However, when he learns that some of his toys are either in "the hold of the plane" or have been left behind...