Summary

In “Artemis Victor vs. Rachel Doricko,” the remaining boxers eat breakfast at the motel. Rachel has five small cups of peanut butter and four hard-boiled eggs. She eats them with her hands, hoping Artemis is watching. In the gym, she notices Artemis is wearing makeup and has straightened her hair. She scoffs at her appearance but cannot read her. When the bell rings, the girls “bump gloves” (161). Rachel worries the referees did not check Artemis’s gloves and fears she will be killed.

Artemis imagines herself as a flood. While housesitting once, a pipe burst and ruined the house. She realized the power of water then.

Artemis wins the first two rounds, but Rachel wins the third. In the future, Rachel will not have the same gumption outside of boxing. She “will become a grocery store manager” (163). She...