Ian Gray
Ian is the story's protagonist, a young boy looking forward to the day his mother will be discharged from the hospital. The author depicts Ian as a caring boy who loves people and animals. Ian stays at home with his aunt, Terry, waiting for the day Mom will return.
Ian's loneliness ends when a big dog surprisingly appears in the backyard. Ian loves dogs and quickly befriends the dog and names it Gather. Gather keeps Ian company and becomes his companion in everything he does. When Mom finally returns, Ian tells her that Gather is part of the family and he will be spending his nights in the house.
Ian’s mother (Mom)
Ian's mother is a depressed woman who falls into opioid addiction. Drug addiction does Mom more harm than good because she ends up hospitalized for several days, thus increasing anxiety in her family members. When Mom, at last, is discharged, she stays at home until she recovers. After recovery, Mom starts working and goes to live with her boyfriend.
Terry (Ian’s Aunt)
Terry is Ian's aunt, and the author describes her as playful, jovial, and outgoing. While Ian's mother is at the hospital, Terry does her best to comfort Ian and give him hope that everything will be well. When Ian adopts a big dog, Terry is scared, but she slowly starts to love the dog. When Ian's mom is discharged, Terry cares for her until she recovers.
Gather (Ian’s dog)
Gather is the big dog that visits Ian's backyard. Gather is gracious, jokey, jolly, and defensive. Gather walks side-by-side with Ian and ensure he is safe. When around the house, Gather does not provoke Terry, and he follows instructions to avoid trouble. One day, Gather runs away to the woods, forcing Ian to mobilize the community to help bring him back.
