The Best at It

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of anti-gay bias, racism, bullying, and mental illness.

“We also have an agreement: he doesn’t baby me just because I’m twelve, and I don’t coddle him just because he’s got sixty years on me. In fact, he’s the one who insisted I call him ‘Bhai.’ It’s pronounced kinda like ‘buy’ and it means older brother.”

This quotation characterizes the relationship between Rahul and Bhai. In several Indian languages, “Bhai” means “brother.” He does not want Rahul to treat him hierarchically, like a typical elder. He wants Rahul to be able to confide in him as if he were a brother and peer. This shows Bhai’s compassion and gentleness.

“Then he points two fingers at his eyes and then at me. Back and forth. Back and forth. ‘I see you, Rahul!’

Chelsea whips around and yells back, ‘Uh, we see you too, weirdo! What’s your problem?’

David touches her arm, and Chelsea’s face turns a light shade of pink. ‘Don’t even pay attention to him, Chelsea. He’s a waste of space.’”

Brent shows behavior characteristic of an archetypical bully. Importantly, people like Chelsea and David never capitulate to Brent’s bullying. They point out his behavior as problematic and urge Rahul not to listen to him. This quote also explores Chelsea’s feelings for David, which Rahul appears unaware of until she asks David to the dance.

“‘I guess he’s sorta cute, right? Some people say so, anyway.’

‘Um.’ I ponder it. ‘I like the way he gels his hair. And he’s got cool sneakers.’ I catch myself. ‘Anyway, how would I know if a boy’s cute? I’m not exactly the right person to ask.’”

This quotation relates to the theme of Figuring Out and Accepting One’s Identity. Chelsea is figuring out the types of people she might be romantically interested in and wants to discuss it with her friend. However, Rahul limits his own comments so that he cannot say anything that might be perceived as non-heterosexual, which he perceives as normative at this point.