Because You Love to Hate Me(16)

“JACK” SUBVERTS THESE REPRESENTATIONS AND PLAYS WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS.

“Jack” challenges age boundaries in character and culture. Love of her people and family drives the adultlike protagonist even while she frets about her still-forming identity, enjoys trivial pursuits (e.g., watching magicked television), and performs chores and daily duties (e.g., staining and stamping leather). The blurred age boundaries create a universal feel to the story and highlight the similarities between our life and that of Ameriie’s giants. Are we so different from Jack? Or from Ameriie’s giant? Would we have made the same choice to betray a friend when faced with the demands of custom and family pressure?





“Jack” forces the reader to reconsider expectations of both giants and tyrants. After all, we can discuss the meaning of giant representations in literature or realize our own complicity in cultural stereotyping not just the giants in our lives.





GWEN AND ART AND LANCE





BY SOMAN CHAINANI



Wednesday

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

Lance du Lac just asked me to Prom. On the phone.

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

Is that the Goth kid with greasy hair who smokes under the bleachers during football games, because I smell it when we cheer on the sidelines Do you even know him

What did you say

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

Yes

No

You think I answered his call? He left a VM. So creepy. Texted back I’m going with someone else FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

???

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

!

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

ARTHUR PENDRAGON ASKED YOU TO PROM?

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

:)

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

OMG. Dying. Dead. Those abs. Those blues. What a stallion. They should replace that David statue with his. And put it in my house.

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

Rather have the real thing. Art and I belong together.

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

Good luck. No girl has pulled the sword from that stone.

#Excalibur

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

Takes a queen to pull #Excalibur

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

OMG. YOU’RE GONNA HOOK UP WITH

ART PENDRAGON.

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

Don’t tell anyone. Will post on Insta when we’re official.

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

Secret’s safe with me.

Btw just booked our hair and mani-pedis for Saturday FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

Perf, picking up my dress from the tailor’s! It’s straight off the runway from Milan . . .

**ROUND TABLE BANK**

ALERT—Dear Guinevere, Your account balance has been overdrawn. Please log in . . .

FROM: MORGAN

TO: GWEN

Hi girlie! Got the other cheerleaders’ $$ for Prom limo—did you send yours?

FROM: DAD

TO: GWEN

Guinevere, the bank just e-mailed me an overdraft warning for your account. What don’t you understand? Our assets are frozen until the SEC investigation is complete. There is no money for you to spend. I had the bank block charges for your Prom limo and Prom dress so you wouldn’t incur further fees.

FROM: GWEN

TO: MORGAN

Ugh, I wired the $$ but my phone has been glitchy. Would never miss the limo with you girls. Especially when you see who my date is . . . :) Will give you a check tomorrow!

FROM: GWEN

TO: ART

Hi! Amaaaazing job at the game yesterday!! KNIGHTS RULE! I cheered super loud to distract the other team during that field goal—pretty sure they missed because of me!

With all your hard work on the field you probably forgot Prom’s on Saturday! Better ask that special someone before it’s too late . . . :) FROM: ART

TO: GWEN

Gwen! What’s up?

You ladies did great yesterday

And yeah. Prom. Ugh.

Btw Lance said he asked you but you’re locked. Who’s the lucky guy?

FROM: GWEN

TO: ART

You’re friends with Lance?

FROM: ART

TO: GWEN

Yeah, we go back

Don’t hang at school much

Complicated

FROM: GWEN

TO: ART

What else did Lance say about me?

FROM: ART

TO: GWEN

I know he likes you. Told him he shoulda asked you sooner.

You really don’t want to tell me who you’re going with huh :P

FROM: GWEN

TO: ART

You don’t know him.

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

CALL ME NOW.

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

Sorry I hung up on you.

You told me Art Pendragon asked you to Prom and now you’re telling me he didn’t.

I can’t believe you lied to me.

FROM: GWEN

TO: ELAINE

And I can’t believe there’s a $2000 BET POOL about whether I’ll hook up with Art Pendragon at Prom! I told you not to tell anyone!

FROM: ELAINE

TO: GWEN

I didn’t! I only told the squad.