Opening Lines
The opening lines of the novel are pumped full of sensory imagery. The author clearly desires the reader to feel as thought they are inside that bus, sharing a seat alongside her protagonist. More than just being in the bus, however, is the desire to be inside the mind of the narrator and to see and feel things from her perspective.
“The bus smelled of mildew, machine oil, and sweat. As the suburban Atlanta sprawl disappeared behind us, I tapped my foot on the floor and chewed a lock of my newly long hair. A nagging voice reminded me that I was only a half hour from home, that if I got off at the next stop and walked back to Smyrna, by sunset I could be in the comfort of my own bedroom, the familiar smell of Mom’s starchy cooking in the air.”
The Paranoia
Part and parcel of being a participant in the transgender world is paranoia. Especially at the beginning and especially squared when meeting new people. Every smile contains a question mark as to whether it is sincere or ironic, and every unheard comment is loaded with suspicion:
“As I moved to find a seat, one face was still turned my way: a tall, lean boy with dark, sharp eyes and wavy black hair. Our eyes caught, and I felt a lurch in my stomach. He sat with another boy, this one tall and bulky with short light hair and a nose that looked like it had been broken before, a half-lidded, sarcastic expression pointed at me. The sarcastic-looking one said something I couldn’t make out, and a crimson blush spread across his friend’s cheeks.”
Passing
This next example is short and to the point compared to the others mentioned here. When it comes to imagery, however, size really doesn’t matter. It isn’t the length that counts, but what it does. For some—if not most…if not all—trans females, a great bit chunk of being happy comes down to act of “passing” for a biologically-born female. Genetics mandates that some will have a far easier time of it than others—if not most. Some biologically gestated males are just born with thinner limbs, a natural scarcity of body hair, and a generally more feminine appearance. Before reaching the stage of hormones and surgery, these things make a huge difference. Hint: the key part of this imagery comes at the beginning:
“You’re a girl, you’ve always been a girl, you won the genetic lottery when it comes to passing”
Lighten Up
Not every use of imagery is strictly devoted to the central issue. Like any good work of fiction, the author paints the background with imagery in scenes that simply need a little dressing up:
“The homecoming committee, under Anna and Layla’s expert guidance, had taken the `Heroes’ Homecoming' theme and transformed our drab, rundown gym into something out of The Odyssey. Canvases painted with profiles of Greek heroes slaying monsters lined the walls, hiding the foldedup bleachers. The ceiling was covered in blue streamers interspersed with hanging cardboard hydras and sea monsters. The DJ onstage at the far end of the gym even wore a toga.”
