The Kellys have six children: Hazel, Bill, Etta, Mick, Bubber/George and Ralph. Mr. Kelly used to be a carpenter but since he broke his hip he has been running a watch-repair business out of their house. He feels useless and ignored by his family so he often asks Mick to do trivial things for him while he's working just so he can have someone to talk to. The Kelly family is poor and takes in boarders like John Singer to live in their house. Mrs. Kelly hires Portia to help raise the younger children and cook and clean.