Patina

Patty and her group members choose Frida Kahlo as the subject of their Important Women in History project. References to Kahlo appear multiple times throughout the text; Patty invokes Kahlo when seeking a symbol of strength. Patty often compares herself and the artist, such as when Patty points out that Kahlo was close to her father (as was Patty) and overcame trauma in her childhood and early teenage years to become a successful artist. In the narrative, Kahlo represents overcoming obstacles and finding confidence in oneself through diving into a passion or talent. For Kahlo, this was painting, and Patty notes that running serves a similar function for her.

The 4 x 800 relay and baton are consistent motifs throughout the text. In the context of Patty’s childhood trauma, Patty has been handed the weight of heavy problems before she is ready. She takes on the caretaking responsibilities for Maddy and learns to rely on herself because she feels it is necessary, but as a result she places intense pressure on herself and doesn’t know how to act as a member of a team.

Her disappointed reaction to her second-place finish in the first chapter of the text illustrates that she does not really view herself as a member of a larger team, rather a runner in a single event whose performance only affects herself. Later, the team captain and Coach inform her that her attitude does in fact have implications for the entire team. Coach then makes it his mission to teach Patty how to rely on others so that she may be a better teammate.

At first, Patty thinks she understands how to run the relay and vastly oversimplifies its complexity. She and her teammates, through a few awkward dancing lessons and arguments over misunderstandings, learn to trust one another and have “each other’s backs” (113). Despite the story ending on a cliffhanger, Patty has learned how to navigate the transfer of energy required to be an effective member of a team.

This motif applies to Patty’s personal life as well: In her family, she believes she must be solely responsible for herself and Maddy even though Momly and Uncle Tony are supportive caretakers. Momly especially tries to teach her throughout the text that Patty need not run the entire race herself—she can receive support just as much as she gives it.

This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the text. Ma says this to Patty, and it acts as a mantra for Patty to recall during hard moments during her races. The origins of this phrase are never explained, but Patty understands it to mean that she can succeed even when she feels self-doubt.

The phrase also directly connects Patty to her mother, whom she no longer lives with, and reminds her of her family lineage and where she comes from. When Patty’s teammate, Krystal, accuses her of having an attitude because she has a “white mother,” Patty flies into a rage mostly because Krystal has misidentified Momly as her biological mother. Patty is angry not because she dislikes Momly, but because Krystal’s comment erases Ma. The comment also questions Patty’s identity as “the daughter of Bev Jones. And she don’t make no junk” (105), which takes on additional importance because Patty is no longer able to live with her.