Cast of Characters

Margaret: Oldest sister, born 1971. MFA Russian Literature. Mother of 6 children. Soft, entreating voice. Good listener. Suffers from madness.

Liza: Older sister born July 4, 1976. Cornell embryology Ph.D. Reader, quilter, painter, writer, socialite, mother of two. Married to another scientist.

Becca: Older sister and mentor. Born a twin in 1977. Lives in Manhattan. Artist, mystic, mormon. Has holy and terrible visions.

Chistine: Older sister, sixth of the nine in our family. Born 1979. Intense and driven, extremely wise. Mother of two well-adjusted daughters. Christine has herself well in hand. Terrible taste in men, unfortunately.

Diane: Older sister born 1981. Highly cultured, blessedly loud. Well-dressed.

Schmo: Also Schmosef. Overweight Russian Blue cat adopted from Diane. Loves no one but myself. Favorite activity is being held like a baby, or standing over my head watching my face while I sleep.

Kevin: Diane's husband, a gamer.

Diego: A charming synaesthete with a dynamic face. 5'8", size 8.5 shoe, great dancer. Hayseed from West Texas. Alter ego Cody Swearingen. Areas of study American History, Philosophy, Physical Comedy, Manipulation. On-and-off boyfriend c. 2012-2018

Paul: Best friend since school days, occasional lover. Wealthy, monk-like, anxious, sardonic in public and earnest in private. Exacting but inconsistent taste.

Elaine: Best friend from Brigham Young University (2008). Writer and academic. Cagey, elusive. Over-engaged in the suffering of the world, and in her own suffering.

Hannah:College best friend, met in French class. Effervescent, conscientious, dedicated. Brilliant film director. Hannah is drawn to confident and talented people, who naturally love her. Hosts great parties. Usually tied up in knots. Mom friend.

Jennifer: Hardass DBT therapist.

Michael: A tall, sarcastic cellist from Plano I dated and lived with for 9 months in 2009. Math enthusiast.

Forrest: Native Austinite, a fair creature of rivers and woods with adamantine family and community ties.

Julian: