Living with a teen-aged girl feels like an immersion foreign language class. Words are introduced through normal conversation and soon, through repetition and context, one catches on to their meaning and usage. “Salty” is a word I particularly enjoy; my husband is good at using “ratchet” and “savage” unironically.
“Main character” is a term that’s harder to parse. On car trip, while listening to an atmospheric playlist: “This is main character vibes.” A cute, cool girl waiting in the parking lot: “She’s the main character.” I get it, but don’t. Confidence? Groundedness? I catch a whiff, but then it’s gone.
Cynthia Hamill 