Patina Chapter 1

Summary

In this excerpt from 'Patina Book Two' by Jason Reynolds, we follow Patina's experiences in track and her personal life. Patina reflects on the concept of a 'false start' in racing, witnessing Ghost's first race blunder and his triumphant recovery. She also shares her own challenging race, where she places second, and her frustration with the outcome. The narrative weaves in her family's struggles, particularly her mother's health issues due to diabetes, and her role as a caretaker for her younger sister, Maddie, including the significance of braiding her hair for church on Sundays.

Takeaways

• 🏃 The story is from 'Patina Book Two' in the 'Track' series by Jason Reynolds, focusing on the theme of running and life's starts and stops.
• 🎯 Patina discusses the concept of a 'false start' in track, explaining it as starting at the wrong time, which is different from a fake start.
• 🤔 The character Ghost experiences a false start in his first race, not realizing the second gunshot meant to stop and restart the race, leading to embarrassment and a lesson learned.
• 🔥 Despite his initial mistake, Ghost comes back stronger in his next attempt, winning the race and showing resilience.
• 💪 Patina has a systematic approach to running the 800 meters, emphasizing pacing and strategy over immediate speed.
• 🏁 Patina faces a challenge in her race due to underestimating the speed of the new league's runners, leading to a tough competition.
• 🥈 Patina finishes second in her race, feeling disappointed and frustrated, which reflects her strong desire to win.
• 👧 Patina's relationship with her younger sister Maddie is highlighted, showing her role as a caretaker and the bond they share.
• 👩‍🦲 The family dynamics are explored, including Patina's mother's struggle with diabetes, which has led to the amputation of her legs.
• 👨‍👧 Patina's godparents, Uncle Tony and Emily, have stepped in to provide support and care for the family after her father's death and her mother's health issues.
• 📅 Sundays are significant for Patina as they involve preparing for church and ensuring Maddie's hair is done properly, which is a ritual to maintain appearances for their mother.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'Patina' by Jason Reynolds?

The main theme of 'Patina' revolves around the challenges and personal growth of a young girl named Patina in the context of track and field, family, and overcoming adversity.

What is the significance of the term 'false start' in the context of the story?

In the story, a 'false start' refers to starting a race at the wrong time, which is a metaphor for the protagonist's life where she feels she's starting at the wrong time in various aspects of her life.

How does Patina describe the difference between a 'false start' and a 'wrong start' in track?

Patina explains that a 'false start' means starting the race when you're not supposed to, while a 'wrong start' implies starting at the wrong time, suggesting that even a false start is real, just at an inopportune moment.

What incident occurs during Ghost's first race in the story?

Ghost false starts during his first race, not realizing that he jumped the gun and should have stopped running, leading to confusion and embarrassment when he reaches the finish line prematurely.

How does Patina feel about her performance in the 800-meter race?

Patina is disappointed and frustrated with her second-place finish in the 800-meter race, as she had been overtaken in the final stretch and had to face the reality of her limitations and the strength of her competitors.

What is Patina's relationship with her sister Maddie?

Patina has a caring and protective relationship with her younger sister Maddie. She takes on the responsibility of braiding Maddie's hair and ensuring she is well taken care of.

Why does Patina braid Maddie's hair every Sunday?

Patina braids Maddie's hair every Sunday for two reasons: because their mother is unable to properly style black hair, and because they visit their biological mother, and Patina wants Maddie to look presentable for her.

What is the significance of the red beads in the braids?

The red beads in the braids are a recurring element that symbolize a connection to their heritage and a personal touch that Patina adds to Maddie's hair, which also serves as a bonding ritual between the sisters.

How does Patina feel about her mother's health condition?

Patina feels a deep sense of loss and sadness about her mother's health condition, which includes the amputation of her legs due to diabetes, referred to as 'the sugar' in the story.

What role do Patina's godparents, Uncle Tony and Emily, play in her life?

Uncle Tony and Emily, Patina's godparents, have stepped in as her and Maddie's guardians after their mother's health deteriorated, providing support and a stable home environment for the sisters.

Outlines

00:00

🏃‍♂️ The First Race and the False Start

The first paragraph introduces the theme of the story, focusing on the sport of track and field, specifically the experiences of the characters Patina and Ghost. It discusses the concept of a 'false start' in racing, emphasizing that there's no such thing as a fake start, only a wrong one, which means starting too early. The narrative centers on Ghost's first race where he mistakenly believes he has started correctly but ends up with a false start. Despite the initial setback and embarrassment, Ghost manages to win the race on his second attempt, showcasing resilience and determination.

05:02

🏅 The 800-Meter Race and the Struggle for Victory

The second paragraph delves into the narrator's personal experience of running the 800-meter race. It describes the narrator's strategy, which involves starting strong but allowing others to lead the first lap, anticipating that they will tire. However, the narrator is surprised by the pace set by the new league's runners and finds herself struggling to keep up. In the final stretch, she manages to overtake some competitors but finishes second, which leaves her frustrated and upset. The disappointment is palpable as she reflects on her performance and the desire to win, which is a driving force in her life.

10:03

👧 Braiding Hair and Family Traditions

The third paragraph shifts the focus to the narrator's relationship with her younger sister, Maddie, and their Sunday routine of braiding Maddie's hair. It highlights the importance of this tradition, which is a way to connect with their mother and maintain a sense of normalcy amidst the family's struggles. The narrator describes the process of braiding, adding beads, and the significance of the color red, which is a recurring theme in their family's history. The paragraph also touches on the challenges faced by their mother, who has lost her legs due to complications from diabetes, and the narrator's role in taking care of her sister and helping with household responsibilities.

15:05

🏠 Family History and Overcoming Adversity

The fourth paragraph provides a deeper look into the family's history and the narrator's emotional journey. It recounts the tragic loss of the narrator's father and the subsequent health challenges faced by her mother due to diabetes, which led to the amputation of her legs. The narrator expresses her feelings of anger and frustration, which she has kept inside, and her determination to take care of her family. The paragraph also discusses the support provided by the narrator's godparents, who have stepped in to help raise the children. The story concludes with the narrator's commitment to maintaining family traditions and her protective instincts towards her sister, Maddie.

Keywords

💡False Start

A 'false start' in the context of track and field refers to the premature beginning of a race before the official signal is given. In the script, Ghost experiences a false start during his first race, misunderstanding the rules and running before the second signal. This incident is pivotal as it illustrates the theme of learning from mistakes and the harsh realities of competition.

💡Amputation

Amputation is the medical term for the removal of a limb or other body part. In the video script, the narrator's mother undergoes multiple amputations due to complications from diabetes, referred to as 'the sugar.' This concept is central to the family's narrative, highlighting the struggles and resilience in the face of adversity.

💡Diabetes

Diabetes, or 'the sugar' as referred to in the script, is a chronic condition affecting the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels. The narrator's mother suffers from this disease, which leads to the loss of her legs. This keyword is significant as it sets the backdrop for the family's challenges and the narrator's growth in responsibility.

💡Track Series

The 'Track Series' refers to a collection of books by Jason Reynolds that focus on the experiences of young athletes. The script is from 'Patina,' the second book in the series, which delves into the life of a young girl athlete, Patina, and her experiences with competition, family, and personal growth.

💡Competition

Competition in this script is depicted through the sport of track and field, where characters like Ghost and Patina strive to excel. It is a central theme, showing the characters' determination, the pressure to win, and the emotional impact of both victory and defeat.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. The script showcases the resilience of the characters, particularly the narrator, who takes on the responsibility of caring for her younger sister and dealing with her mother's health issues.

💡Adoption

Adoption is the legal process of taking someone else's child and raising it as your own. In the script, the narrator and her sister are adopted by their godparents, Tony and Emily, after their mother's health deteriorates. This keyword is key to understanding the family dynamics and support system in the story.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural identity refers to a person's sense of belonging to a cultural group, which can be based on factors like race, ethnicity, and shared traditions. The script touches on this concept through the characters' experiences as black individuals, such as the care of black hair and the cultural nuances in their community.

💡Support System

A support system consists of people who provide emotional, financial, or practical help. In the script, the narrator's support system includes her godparents and the track team, which helps her navigate through personal and family challenges.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility in the script is portrayed through the narrator's actions in taking care of her younger sister and managing her mother's health issues. It is a key theme that shows the narrator's maturity and the weight of her duties.

💡Emotional Turmoil

Emotional turmoil refers to a state of great emotional distress or confusion. The script captures this through the characters' reactions to failure, such as Ghost's false start and the narrator's disappointment at placing second in her race, reflecting the intense emotions athletes experience.

Highlights

The concept of a 'false start' in track is introduced as a metaphor for life, where there are no fake beginnings, only wrong ones.

Ghost's first race experience, where he jumps the gun, symbolizes the theme of learning from mistakes and the pressure of competition.

The importance of timing and being prepared for the right moment is emphasized through Ghost's false start.

The narrative explores the dynamics of friendship and rivalry between Ghost and Lou, highlighting the complexity of their relationship.

The chapter delves into the psychological aspect of sports, where the mind plays a significant role in performance.

Patina's strategic approach to the 800-meter race showcases her discipline and understanding of pacing.

The competitive spirit and the drive to win are central to Patina's character, as she pushes through the race.

The narrative captures the emotional turmoil of Patina after a race, reflecting the high stakes and personal investment in sports.

The support system in sports is highlighted through the coach's role in calming Ghost down after his mistake.

The metaphor of 'running on empty' is used to describe the physical exhaustion and mental determination of the athletes.

The chapter touches on the theme of family dynamics and the impact of parental figures on the main characters.

Patina's responsibility towards her sister, Maddie, and their shared ritual of braiding hair on Sundays is a poignant moment.

The cultural significance of hair and its styling in the African American community is explored through Patina's braiding of Maddie's hair.

The chapter provides insight into the challenges faced by a family dealing with a parent's chronic illness, diabetes.

The emotional journey of the protagonist is depicted as she copes with her mother's amputations and the family's new reality.

The theme of resilience and the strength of family bonds is evident in the way the characters support each other through adversity.

The chapter concludes with a reflection on the importance of Sundays, family, and the role of tradition in the characters' lives.

Transcripts

hi guys i am here to read

chapter one from patina book two

in the track series by jason reynolds

all right let's see what patina is like

chapter one to do everything

including forgetting about the race and

braiding my sister's hair

ain't no such thing as a false start

because false means fake

and ain't no fake starts in track either

you start

or you don't either you run or you don't

no in between

now there can be a wrong start that

makes more sense to me

means you just start at the wrong time

just jump early and break out running

with no one there running with you

no competition except for your own brain

that swears there's other people on your

heels

but ain't nobody there not for real

ain't no chaser

that's what they really mean when they

say false start

a real start is a real start at the

wrong time

and at the first meet of the season

nobody knew this more than ghost

before the race me and everybody else

stood on the sidelines clapping and

hyping ghost and lieu up as they put

their marks

this was of course after they had

already gassed each other

up talking to each other like there was

no one else on the track with them

funny how they went from mean mugging

each other when they first met

becoming all buddy buddy like they

they're their own

two man gang or something louis ghost

sticking together like glue

glue ghost and blue

glue get it that could be their corny

crew name

lost would also work matter of fact

there was a moment when i thought that

name might even be more fitting

especially after what ghost did

see at first i thought he timed it

perfectly i thought it was pushed off

from

the from the line at the exact moment

the gun went off

as if he had just knew when it was

coming like he would feel it on the

inside of him or something but he didn't

hear the second shot

well i take that back of course he heard

it it was a loud boom

it was impossible not to hear it but he

didn't know it meant

that he had jumped too early that he had

false started

i mean this was his fate his first race

so he had no clue that the second shot

meant to stop

running and start over no he didn't

even the entire hundred meters didn't

know that people

weren't cheering him on but were yelling

for him to pull up to go back to the

starting line

so when he got to the finish line he

threw his hands up in victory and turned

around with one of them million two

smiles until he noticed

all the other runners his competition

were still

up at the top of the track he looked out

into the crowd

everybody laughing pointing shaking

their heads while ghost dropped his

stared at the black tar his chest like

something blowing up a balloon inside

him

then letting the air out then blowing it

back up then letting the air out

i was afraid that balloon was gonna bust

that ghost would burst

open like he'd used to do when he first

joined the team

and i could tell by the way he was

chewing on the side of his jaw

that he wanted to or maybe just keep

running off the track

out the park all the way home coach

walked over to him

whispered something in his ear

i don't know what it was but it was

probably something like

it's okay it's okay settle down you're

still in it

but if you do it again you're

disqualified nah

knowing coach should probably be

something a little more deep like

i don't know i can't even think of

nothing right now

but coach was full of deep whatever it

was

close close lifted his head and tried it

back to the line

where lou was waiting with his arms out

for a

4-5 ghost was still out of breath but

there was no time for him to catch it

he had to get back down on his mark get

ready to run it all

over the starter held the gun in the air

again my stomach flipped over again the

man pulled the trigger again

boom again and ghost took off again

it was almost like his legs were sticks

of dynamite and the first run was just

the fuse being lit

and now a tiny fire had gotten to the

blow-up part

and let me tell you ghost blew up

busted wide open in the best way i mean

the dude exploded down the line in a

blur

even faster this time his silver shoes

like sparks flicking

up off the track first race

first place even

after a false start and if a false start

means a real start at the wrong time

the wrong time being too early then i

must have had a false

finish which also ain't a fake finish

but a real

finish just too late makes sense

just in case it don't let me explain my

race was up next

and here's the thing i've been running

the 800

for three years straight it's my race

i have a system a way of running it i

came off the block

strong and low and by the time i'm

straight up my stride is steady

but i always allow myself to drop back a

little you know

keeping it cool for the first lap pace

that's where 800 runners below it they

start out too

fast and be rigged by the second lap i

see a lot of girls get

roasted out there showboating on the

first 400

but i knew better i knew the second 400

was the kicker

what i didn't know though was just how

fast the girls in the new league were

what kind of shape they were in so when

the gun blew and we took off

i realized that the pace i had to keep

just to stay with the pack

was faster than i was used to but of

course

i'm thinking these girls are stupid and

are going to be tired in 20 seconds

in 30 seconds in 40 seconds

never happened and just and

instead it ended up being me myself

saying

oh god i'm tired how am i tired

and as we rounded into the final 200

meters i had to dig deep and step it up

so i turned on the jets here's how it

went

cornrows low cut ponytail and puny tail

in front of me chomping down patty push

push push

breathe cornrows is on my side now

the crowd is screaming the traditional

chant when someone is getting past

push push cornrows is toast

100 meters to go mouth wide open eyes

wide open

stride wide open chopping down patty

arms pumping whipping the air out of my

way like water

low cut is slowing up her little pee

head's bobbling like it could snap

right off she's tired finally

got her two more to go ponytail can feel

me coming

she can probably hear my footsteps over

the screaming crowd she knows i'm close

and then she makes the biggest mistake

ever the one thing

every coach tells you to never do she

looked back

see when you look back it automatically

knocks your stride off

and it gets you messed up mentally and

once ponytail looked over her shoulder

the whoops started back up like a siren

50 meters that's right i'm coming

chopping down patty i'm coming i could

see puny tail just ahead of her

and the little twist of her hair in the

back of her head like a snake tongue

she was running out of breath i could

see that by the way her form had broken

down

ponytail was too we all were and even

worse for me

we were also running out of track i got

a ponytail by the nose

second place then collapsed

people trailing all around me jumping up

and down in the stands quickly becoming

a wavy blur of colors

as the tears rose second

stupid second place ugh

no way i was gonna cry trust me i wanted

to

water pricking at my eyelids but no way

i wanted to kick something

i was so mad coach came over and helped

me up

and once i was standing i yanked away

from her and limped over to the bench

my legs were burning and cramping but i

wanted to kick something anyway

maybe kick the bench over kick those

stupid orange slices lose mother brought

anything but instead i just sat down and

didn't say a word for the rest of the

meet

yes i was a sore loser if that's what

you want to call it

to me i just like to win i only want to

win

anything else false fate

but real so real i didn't even want to

talk about it on the way to church the

next day

not with no one not even with god i

spent all morning braiding maddie's hair

the same way ma

used to braid mine when i was little

only difference is

my got fat fingers and used to be like

braiding like she was

tying to to strip that she was trying to

strip the edges

or make me bald talking about gotta make

it tight so it don't come loose

right but i don't even do maddie's that

tight and i could knock out a whole head

of hair in a half an hour if she sits

still

which she never does how many more

maddie whined squirming to the floor in

front of me i'm almost done just chill

out so i can

i pick a can of beads and them in

her ear like one of them spanish shaker

things

just like that she calmed down and let

me tilt her head forward so i could

braid the last section

the bits of curls tightly wound at the

base of her neck i dip my fingers in the

gunk

on the back of my hand and massaged it

into maddie's scalp

then i stroked grease into the leftover

bush ball

tugging it straight then letting it go

watching it shrink back into

dark brown cotton candy what color is

you want

i asked separating her hair into three

parts um

maddie put a finger on her chin acting

like she's thinking

i say acting because she knew what color

she wanted she picked the same one

every week matter of fact there was only

one color in the can

red we both said at the same time me of

course with a little more pepper and a

little less pep

maddie tired maddie tried to whip around

and give me a funny face

but i was mid-braid ah stay still

then came the beating today 30 beats so

three red beads on each braid 90 beads

i used tiny bits of aluminum foil on the

ends to keep the beads from slipping off

even though i knew they would anyway but

who got time to do

to use those little rubber bands not me

and definitely not maddie

when we finished maddie did what she

always did ran to the bathroom

i followed her like i always did and

lifted her up so she could see herself

in the mirror

she smiled her mouth like a piano with

only one black key

one front tooth missing then maddie ran

back to the living room and blew a kiss

at the picture propped up on the table

next to the tv

the same picture every time of me at her

age

six with a big cheese and a missing

front tooth and braids

red beads aluminum foil on the ends

i do maddie's here every sunday for two

reasons

the first is because momly can't do it

if it were up to her

maddie's here would be in two afro puffs

every day

either that our mom lee would have

shaved it all off by now

it's not that she don't care she does

it's just that she doesn't know what to

do with hair like maddie's

like ours madu but momly nope

she never had to deal with nothing like

it and there ain't no rule book for

white people

to know how to work with black hair and

her husband

my uncle tony he ain't no help ever

since they adopted us

every time i talk about maddie's hair

uncle tony says the same thing just let

it rock

like he's going to sit in the back of

maddie's class and stink face

all the six-year-old bullies and

barrettes

right but luckily everybody especially

maddie

i know what i'm doing been a black girl

all my life

the only reason i always do maddie's

hair on sundays is because that's when

we see ma

and she don't want to see maddie looking

like she ain't never been nowhere

so maddie's hair is done we get dressed

as in

dressed up all the way up maddie puts on

one of her church dresses

white patent leather shoes that most

people only wear on easter sunday

but for us for ma every sunday's like

easter

i put on a dress too run a comb through

my hair until it cooperates

ugly black ballerina flats because motto

want me

looking fast in the house of the lord

then momly drives us across town to

barbary

barnaby terraced my old neighborhood

barnaby terraces fine i don't really

know what else to say about it except

for the fact that there's nothing really

to say about it ain't nobody rich

that's for sure but ain't nobody really

poor either

everybody's just regular regular people

going to regular jobs having regular

kids who go to regular schools and grow

up to be regular people with regular

jobs

and on and on and i guess everything was

pretty regular about me too

until six years ago follow me

just turned six and me and my dad were

having one of our famous invisible

cupcake parties

of like little girls on old tv shows be

having tea parties

but you know how it don't ever really be

tea in the cups

like that except i didn't have a tea set

and my mom would let us use her real

teacups which were really just random

coffee mugs

but my dad always said tea don't even

taste good enough to pretend to drink it

he also said tea and eat are made up of

the same letters

anyway so pretending to eat was pretty

much the same as pretending to drink

and what better thing to pretend to eat

than cupcakes and that's what we always

had

imaginary cakes but on this night my

mother cut the party short because it

was a school night

plus she was pregnant with maddie at the

time and needed my father to massage her

feet

so he whispered in my ear sleep tight

sweet pancake

your mama and the waffle need me then he

kissed me good night

first on the forehead then one on the

cheek then on the other cheek

i don't know what happened next my guess

is that after rubbing ma's feet

he kissed her good night too and maddie

the waffle

who was probably being all fidgety in

mom's stomach

i bet dad smooched right on the belly

button

then rolled over and went to sleep

but he never woke up like ever

it was crazy and if we had been allowed

to drink pretend tea for my mother's

real cups

they all would have been shattered the

next morning after she woke me up

her face wet with tears she blurted

something's happened

i would have smashed each and every one

of those cups on the floor

and i would have smashed more of them

two years later when my mother had two

toes cut off her right foot and six

months after that

when she had that whole foot cut off

six months after that three years ago

when my mother had her

both her legs chopped off which i'm

telling you would have left a whole

stupid cabinet empty broken mugs

everywhere

nothing left to drink from

but i didn't instead i just swallowed it

all

and wish this was all some kind of

invisible pretend

something it wasn't just so you don't

get the wrong idea

it's not like my mom just wanted her

legs cut off

she got the sugar well it's really a

disease called diabetes

but she calls it sugar so i call it the

sugar

plus i like i like that better than

diabetes because diabetes got the word

dye

in it and i hate that word the sugar

broke mama's lower extremities

which is how doctors say legs it's just

went crazy all in her

body stop the blood flow in her feet i

used to have to rub and grease them at

night

just like my dog used to and it was like

putting lotion on two tree trunks

eye and crack swollen and dark like

she'd been standing in coal

but at some point she just couldn't feel

them no more and i went from

moisturizing them

to trying to rub them back to life and

after that

they were basically i guess the best way

to explain it is just

just to say dead her feet had died

like i said i hate that word but ain't

no way else to say it

and i guess death can travel can spread

like a fire in the body

so the doctors had to go ahead and cut

her legs off they call it an

amputate which for some reason makes me

think of something growing

not something being chopped just above

the knee

to keep more of her from dying maddie's

only six

now and ever since she was born i've

been helping out the best i could with

her

but with ma losing her toes and feet

helping out became straight up taken

care of

i'm talking about keeping lists in my

head of things i had to take care of

to do make sure maddie's bathed to do

make sure maddie's stressed to do make

sure maddie's fed

to do everything

but after ma lost her legs my godparents

my dad's brother tony

and his wife emily stepped in and took

over as our

soul guardians which the first time i

heard it i thought was

soul guardians which i guess is

just as good i like guardian angels i

bet uncle tony in on emily who maddy

used to call

mama emily which became momly had no

idea

that when they said that they would be

godparents that they were inher

excuse me inheriting all this drama

i bet they just thought they'd have to

give us gifts on random days

days that doesn't days that wasn't our

birthday or christmas

slip is ten dollar bills just because

stuff like that

not take care of us all the way that's a

lot

but they always acted like they were

cool with it like this is what they

signed up for

and we grateful even though i still

gotta look out for maddie because you

know

i just do i still keep a list in my

brain

plus momly can't do black hair for

nothing

why am i telling you this long story oh

i remember because sundays

on sundays like i said maddie's hair got

to be right

for ma all right i'll see you guys for

chapter two good luck with the quiz