Sister, Sister

A schoolteacher who also sings in the church choir, Carolyne is devout yet entangled in a morally complex affair with Rev. Henderson. She is protective of her younger sister Sissy and struggles with balancing family duty with personal desires. Her actions disrupt the family equilibrium and force hard choices about loyalty and happiness.

The 20-year-old sister who dreams of becoming an ice skater, Sissy resents being steered toward a conventional career. Her defiance clashes withCarolyn's expectations and heightens sibling tensions. When Frieda arrives, Sissy's world pivots, and she ultimately decides to seek a fresh start in New York.

The estranged sister who has spent years in Detroit, Frieda is portrayed as the troubled black sheep. She challenges the NC family by proposing to sell the house and by her provocative affair with the Reverend, which intensifies the household conflict. Ultimately, she stays in North Carolina to try to repair bonds with Carolyne.

The 12-year-old son of Frieda who has had trouble with the law in Detroit. Danny's presence introduces a younger generation's perspective into the family drama and underscores the possibility of starting anew amid upheaval. His arc reflects the consequences of fractured family dynamics and the hope for reform.

A married pastor and senator-elect who becomes entangled with Carolyne. His affair sits at the heart of the conflict between personal desire and public duty, challenging the values of his community. Henderson's choices catalyze the family upheaval and force others to confront their own moral codes.

The pastor's wife who represents the social expectations of the church community. Although not deeply explored in the summary, her role frames the external pressures and judgments faced by the couple within a tight-knit faith community.