Fresh Ink: An Anthology

This story centers on high school transgender swimmer Tommy using first-person perspective, revealing his struggles with his identity as well as the important role of swimming in his life. Tommy faces gender bias and openly hateful bullying from fellow swimmer Roman, who uses the word “fag” throughout the story and insists on calling Tommy by the wrong gender and name. Additionally, he faces covert bias from his coach. In response to Tommy telling his coach about his decision to transition, the coach tells him that he’ll tolerate no “distractions” on the team and “none of that rainbow bullshit” (159). Although Tommy’s coach is supportive on the surface, allowing him to remain on the team and telling him that he can make whatever choices he wants, he provides the bare minimum of support. He minimizes Tommy’s important life decision as a “distraction,” and although he swears that he wants no “distractions,” he doesn’t step in to support Tommy when Roman verbally abuses him both during practice and in the locker room. In revealing Tommy’s history, the story describes how he has always struggled with people not understanding who he really is, and he struggled with that same question himself. However, it’s also clear that swimming plays an important role in how Tommy handles hate and his feelings of unbelonging. He reflects on the fact that swimming has always allowed him to escape the complications and prejudice that he faces from the world and instead focus on the simple act of swimming, which makes him feel a freedom like nothing else.

In addition to swimming as support during his struggle, the story explores the theme of Pushing Back Against Hate and Exclusion. Although Tommy receives no real support from his coach or most of his teammates, who simply allow Roman to abuse him, he does receive support from two important people: his mother and Parker. In response to his transitioning, his mother’s initial response was “okay,” but then she was bothered by the feeling that she “should have known. That she should have figured it out” (167). However, after her initial surprise and annoyance at herself for not knowing, Tommy’s mom became extremely supportive of his decision. In the story’s climax, Parker stands up to Roman and the hate that he imposes on Tommy and others. When Roman makes fun of Parker for losing the race to Tommy and asks, “Are you a fag, too?” (170), Parker finally yells at him to “[s]hut up.” Encouraged by the fact that this is the first time he has ever heard Parker stand up to Roman, Tommy joins in. He tells Tommy that he has used the word “fag” too many times today and insults his intelligence. Leaving Roman stunned, Parker and Tommy exit the locker room together. The simple act of Parker standing up to Roman gives Tommy courage and support, something that he needs on his journey as he struggles with self-hate and suicidal thoughts. Although he’ll continue to face hate and prejudice, the fact that he has collective support (from his mother and now from Parker) gives him the courage to be who he really is, despite the people who will try to hold him back with hate and ignorance.