"Even though I'd spent months mentally preparing for my grand reinstatement into Pageland High's social scene, I still woke up scared shitless on the first day of senior year."
The narrator of Victoria Zeller's One Of The Boys, Grace, has started a huge transition over the summer from male to female, from solid status as varsity football player with a friend group and girlfriend to uncertainty about where/if she fits in.
Although she was a very talented kicker, considered headed towards an athletic scholarship at a Division 1 college, although the gridiron sport was a huge part of her life and identity, Grace doesn't see football in her future. But life has other plans for her. When the team loses the first game of the season against a team they should have beat because of a poor performance by their kicker Grace's teammates talk the head coach into reinstating her.
It's not going to be a bed of roses. A lot of people aren't ready for trans athletes or females in what they consider a male sport. Players on other teams can be very rude. And some of her own teammates make it abundantly clear that they don't want her.
That's on top of all the physical, emotional, and social challenges that come with transitioning.
Zeller is a trans woman and former player and life long fan of football who started her writing career as a sports journalist. No wonder One Of The Boys has such a ring of authenticity. It combines a highly engaging narrative with an important social justice issue that too many legislators are treating as a way to win conseevative votes at the expense of nonbinary folx.
On a purrrsonal note, my Friday was the greatest! In the afternoon there were cookies to decorate. I was so happy to see that Bailey had bought zero sugar vanilla wafers. They were SO GOOD!!! I advertised the event all over campus and took pictures. In the evening there was a dinner catered by Olive Garden. (I hadn't their food in 15 years.) It was a collaboration between Wilson Center and Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. After I ate (spaghetti 😋 with meat sauce, grilled chicken, bread sticks--SO GOOD) I took lots of pictures. We had a huge, very happy crowd. Most people knew me. And I participated in the guided discussions. It was a quite spirited meal. I will not wait 15 more years for Olive Garden food!!!
Today BBMAF is helping out at Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. It makes me realize how truly privileged I am to have a roof over my head when so many people don't.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both Friday events and to Eugene who provides so well for me and precious Tobago cat.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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