Fresh Ink: An Anthology

Four friends (Wujae, Cam, Owen, and Macie) play a fantasy game called Swords and Spells and are immersed in the game, fighting undead goblins. However, a dispute breaks out between Owen Anderson, whose mother is Japanese, and Wujae, the leader of the game. The boys argue over Owen’s request to be a samurai within the game, and Wujae is adamant that this isn’t one of the options, insisting that Owen instead call himself a Paladin.

Owen angrily leaves and goes outside, where he’s joined by Cam. The two watch as Kelly Morris, a girl from school whom Owen has a crush on, throws a party across the street. Despite Cam’s warning, Owen decides to go to the party.

Wujae and Cam follow him to the party in an attempt to bring him back. Wujae tells Owen that they can comprise and just call it a “sword” without classifying it as Paladin or samurai, but Owen declines and leaves them. Then, Dusty corners Wujae and Cam, telling them that the party is ending and they need to leave. After they leave, Owen asks Dusty what happened, and he replies, “You mean Kimchi and his boyfriend?” (152). Angry, Owen punches Dusty and knocks him out.