Blackout

This story introduces readers to two new characters and establishes the novel’s unique narrative structure. The fact that Tremaine Wright is the first character mentioned at the outset of this story is significant given that he was mentioned in the previous story. By establishing a clear connection between the two stories—in this case, that Tremaine is the brother of Tammi, the protagonist and narrator from the previous story—readers can deduce that each of the stories will be connected to one another in this way.

Given that this story is narrated by Jacorey “JJ” Harding, readers can infer not only that this character will be at the heart of the story, but that his narration will provide them with an intimate understanding of who he is and what he hopes to become.

The flashback that occurs at the outset of the story, in which JJ remembers the time in sixth grade when he watched his friends bully his classmate, Tremaine, demonstrates that Tremaine will also play a prominent role, not only in the narrative, but in JJ’s life. When the narration returns to the present and readers learn that JJ is stuck on a train with Tremaine in the middle of a power outage, JJ’s narration regarding his history with Tremaine becomes vague and hazy. Though his language makes clear that he does not wish to be “stuck inside this damn tin can with Tremaine for the foreseeable future” (20), he does not provide concrete reasoning as to why until about halfway through the story. The evasion of details regarding his complicated relationship with Tremaine functions to entice readers and draw them further into JJ’s world.

The second flashback, in which JJ recalls spending an evening as “Tobias” with Tremaine at a queer masquerade ball, functions to provide readers with details about JJ and Tremaine’s history, as having this information allows them to make sense of JJ’s apprehension about being stuck on the train with the first boy he ever kissed. In addition, the flashbacks function to demonstrate the ways in which JJ has both remained the same and evolved throughout the years. For example, just as he did in sixth grade when Tremaine was being bullied, present-day JJ does not hesitate to jump to Tremaine’s aid when he needs help. Alternatively, while a past version of JJ may have been too afraid to reveal himself to Tremaine at the masquerade party, present day JJ has grown more comfortable with being himself and speaking honestly about his sexual orientation. Indeed, the dialogue between JJ and Tremaine that occurs while they are waiting on the train platform functions to mirror their first in-depth conversation at the masquerade party. JJ’s revelation supports the novel’s theme of Finding One’s Way Through Darkness as he emerges from the shroud of his protective identity to reveal his true self to the light of Tremaine’s acceptance. While JJ is safe behind his mask at the masquerade party, his breaking out of the subway car and leading Tremaine to safety functions to demonstrate a newfound willingness to face his fears and exist as himself in the world, mask-free.