Imagery of sight
The author’s first encounter with Cole depicts the sense of sight to readers. The author writes, “The afternoon of our first interview, I was running late. As I rushed down a hallway, I noticed a boy sitting outside the library waiting – it had to be him -staring impassively ahead, both feet planted on the floor, hands resting loosely on his thighs." This imagery helps the reader create a visual image of the first encounter between the author and her first interviewee.
Imagery of Cole
Cole's description of his physicality paints a picture of a bold, strong, and energetic young man aspiring to join the army. The author says, "Cole, eighteen, would later describe himself to me as a typical tall, white athlete guy, and that is exactly what I saw; he topped six feet, with broad shoulders and short-clipped, dirty blond hair."
Imagery of Hearing
Throughout the book, the author listens to the boy’s views regarding sex and girls. In this particular context, the author is keen when Cole utters the word ‘bro.’ Cole rocks the word ‘bro’ with strength as he rocks back in his chair. The author says, “Whenever Cole uttered the word ‘bro,’ he shifted his weight to take up more space, rocked back in his chair, spoke low in his throat like he had inhaled a lungful of weed.”
The imagery of masculinity
Marcos's description of a real man paints a picture of masculinity. Marcos says, "You have to look ripped, be tall, have fair skin, talk to a lot of girls. Your basic stuff, pretty much. I don't fit much into it at all because I am a Latino for me. And I am short. And I am not ripped." The reader draws from this imagery that a short, shy, unripped, and unfair skin is not masculine because he depicts girlish traits.
