This Is How It Always Is

As they prepare to go to Thailand, Rosie encourages Claude to be whomever he wants to be, but Claude refuses: “I have to be Claude. […] Claude is my punishment” (242). Speaking to Rosie on the phone, Carmelo presses her about the state of her relationship with Penn. Rosie insists he will be fine without her. “But will you with him, dear?” Carmelo asks (244). Rosie complains to Carmelo about Penn’s idealism regarding the hormone blockers. Carmelo asks Rosie if she has asked Poppy what she thinks. Rosie admits that she has not.

Rosie and Claude arrive in Bangkok. Though the airplane ride is cold and boring, Claude quickly discovers that he prefers the plane to the heat and lack of personal space in the city. However, in Bangkok, he starts to notice “people—women—like him. Like Poppy” (249). Claude cannot keep his eyes off these beautiful creatures, with their curated femininity. He is amazed that they can live their secret out in the open. Rosie and Claude begin the drive to the clinic—which is deep inside the jungle—for the first time.