This Is How It Always Is

Rosie considers the fact that she only has two more years with all of her children under the same roof. To Rosie and Penn’s surprise, Mr. Tongo tells them that they did too good a job of making Poppy feel comfortable in her sexuality and now need to prepare Poppy for not being accepted in the world. “You’d have to help your little girl turn into a woman under any circumstances,” Mr. Tongo assures them. “These are just a little more fun!” (181).

Roo’s anti-social behavior comes to a head when he gets in trouble for fighting fellow student Derek McGuinness at school. While Rosie tends to Roo’s cut forehead, Roo angrily explains that he was fighting with Derek McGuinness due to Derek’s homophobic comments. He also clarifies that his video about the military trans ban was intended as social commentary about transphobia. He accuses his parents of being ashamed that Poppy is trans. Rosie and Penn begin to worry that Poppy feels the same way, and they reflect on why they have continued to keep the secret: “Maybe it was that they were still angry, still had much to be angry about” (193).