Chloe is a lonely 12-year-old girl attending an expensive private school where she lacks friends. She feels alienated in her own home, as her mother heavily favors her younger sister. To cope with her isolation, she writes creative stories in her math notebooks and eats sweets. Her natural curiosity drives her to break her mother's strict rules by speaking to a local unhoused man.

An unhoused man known throughout town for his overwhelming odor. He spends his days on a park bench, mostly ignored by the passing public. Despite his circumstances, he speaks with a refined accent, demonstrates precise table manners, and eats with an engraved silver spoon. He prefers to call himself a wanderer rather than a tramp.

An aspiring politician with a desperate desire to appear wealthy and upper-class. She demands perfection from her family and bans anything she dislikes, viewing unhoused people as menaces to society. She treats her husband poorly and actively stifles Chloe's creative writing in favor of strict academic discipline.

Chloe's father is a large man who lives in fear of his wife's temper. He formerly played electric guitar in a rock band called the Serpents of Doom before giving up music at Mrs. Crumb's insistence. He possesses a gentle nature but avoids direct conflict, often keeping his own troubles entirely hidden from his family.

Chloe's younger sister is a high-achieving child who participates in numerous extracurricular hobbies. The walls of the family home feature awards and photographs celebrating her successes. She frequently mimics her mother's snobbish attitudes and actively tries to get Chloe into trouble.

The cheerful owner of the local corner shop. He sells candy and stationery, focusing more on incoming sweet deliveries than on local politics. He treats Chloe kindly and agrees that people should show compassion to the less fortunate.

A wealthy student at Chloe's private school. She targets Chloe relentlessly, making cruel comments about her weight and mocking her lack of athletic ability.

A small, loyal dog who lives on the street. She patiently sits by the park bench and eagerly devours the sausages that Chloe brings from her family's dinner.

A local journalist working for the newspaper. He arrives to write a profile on Mrs. Crumb's political campaign and quickly jumps to conclusions based on appearances.

The presenter of a political talk show. He attempts to manage his television broadcast and steer conversations back to serious political topics when guests interrupt the proceedings.

The leader of the political party. He monitors public opinion closely and contacts local figures when he believes their presence might improve his party's television ratings.