The speaker is a seven-year-old Cuban immigrant living with his extended family in Miami around 1970. Unlike his parents, he speaks English fluently and learns about mainstream American culture through grade school and popular television programs like The Patty Duke Show. He acts as a cultural bridge for his family, actively trying to bring American customs into his household by convincing them to host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

The speaker's mother is a Cuban exile adapting to life in the United States. She faces a distinct language barrier and is unfamiliar with common American groceries, leading to total bafflement over items like peanut butter. She eventually learns how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to feed her son, marking a small but meaningful step in her assimilation.

The speaker's grandmother, or 'abuelita', is a family matriarch who holds tightly to Cuban customs. She takes charge of the kitchen during the family's hybrid holiday celebration. She prepares the American turkey with great reluctance, acting as though she is committing treason against her own culture by cooking it.

The speaker's father lives in Miami alongside other Cuban exiles. He retains a strong connection to his Cuban identity, relying entirely on the Spanish language rather than English. He participates in the family's elaborate celebrations featuring traditional foods like roasted pork, yuca, and plantains.

Tío Berto is the speaker's uncle. He approaches the family's attempt at an American Thanksgiving with heavy skepticism. Finding the turkey too dry and flavorless, he modifies it with fried pork fat drippings to suit his palate, and he provides blunt commentary on unfamiliar side dishes.

Aunt Miriam is the speaker's aunt and a highly resourceful member of the Cuban household. When U.S. immigration authorities supply the family with large rations of peanut butter, she invents multiple ways to utilize the unfamiliar ingredient before the family discovers its typical use.

Jeff is an American childhood friend of the speaker. His casual mention of jelly provides the speaker's mother with the missing piece of information she needs to understand how Americans consume peanut butter.

The speaker's grandfather, referred to as 'Abuelo,' attends the holiday gathering in the family's Miami apartment. After the meal concludes, he joins the rest of the older relatives in dancing the merengue and drinking strong Cuban coffee.