All three stories center around characters named "Sam." The first Sam appears to be based on Delany's father, Samuel R. Delany Sr., while the other two appear to be based on Delany himself. The title story also includes characters based on Delany's aunts, Sadie Delany and Bessie Delany, and recounts Delany family stories about them that are not included in the Delany Sisters' bestselling book Having Our Say.