Penny
Penny is one of the story's two protagonists. She is thin, tall, and pale. As a girl, she is sent away from London to escape the danger of the Blitz. While staying at a mansion being used to house evacuated children, she sees a strange worm-like creature in the forest. The dream-like encounter stays with her for the rest of her life. She grows up to become a child psychologist, specializing in severely autistic children.
Primrose
Primrose is the story's second protagonist. In contrast to Penny, she is plump and has curly blonde hair. Alongside Penny, she also sees the Thing in the forest. As she grows up, Primrose works several odd jobs while helping to raise her younger siblings. She becomes established as a children's storyteller, performing under the name Aunty Primrose.
Alys
Alys is a young girl who is evacuated to the country with Penny and Primrose. Alys tries to stick close to the older girls, who try to distance themselves from her. Later in life, Penny and Primrose discuss how they believe the Thing must have gotten Alys, who wasn't around after they returned to the house.
Penny's Mother
Penny's mother stays mired in grief after her husband's death. She isolates in her grief, declining to open the curtains of her house long after the blackout policy of the Blitz ends. She dies in the spring of 1984.
Primrose's Mother
Following the death of her husband during the war, Primrose's mother remarries and has five more children. She dyes her hair blonde and takes up smoking. She relies on her eldest daughter to help take care of her many younger children. Like Penny's mother, she dies in the spring of 1984.
Penny's Father
Too old for a combat role, Penny's father is a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service during WWII. He dies while trying to put out a fire at the East India Docks on the Thames in London.
Primrose's Father
Primrose's father is a soldier during WWII. He dies while serving in the Far East.
