Juliet Takes a Breath

In Miami, Titi Penny expresses that Juliet’s mother didn’t even know that Juliet was visiting them and that she needed to call her and explain. Juliet calls her mother, and her mother reprimands her harshly for being disrespectful. After the call, Juliet tells her cousin Ava and Titi Penny about her hardships in Portland, particularly around Lainie and Harlowe’s hidden racism. Ava tells Juliet that she is going to teach her more about queer words while she is in Miami so that Juliet isn’t so clueless when she returns to Portland. Titi Penny tells Juliet they need to “discuss the importance of naming racism when it comes to you unexpectedly in the form of a mentor, a lover, or someone who exists in the gray areas” (222). Juliet and Ava talk for a long time about gender pronouns, trans people, and other things that Juliet doesn’t fully understand.

The next morning, Juliet finds an email in her inbox from Harlowe. In the email, Harlowe apologizes and signs it “the fucked-up white lady that’s trying to live an anti-racist, pro-woman, feminist life that loves you something fierce” (228). Juliet responds, letting Harlowe know when she is returning, and signing it “Juliet, the kid just trying to live right” (228).