Tank Robinson is a teenage boy living in North Salem; his family are the only Black people in the small town. He is grooming his horse, Big Red, who is sick and dying, as he thinks about the triennial North Salem Horse Race. His family has won the race the last five times—ever since he was born—and they put pressure on Tank to make sure he wins this year. They see it as an opportunity to show that they belong in the town despite the racism and hate they face.

In particular, the Smith family that has the farm bordering theirs treats them poorly, to the point where Tank’s dad filled in the ditch that separates their lands with brick. The family has Make American Great Again posters and flies a Confederate Flag, with Tank noting how they do not even try to hide their racism. However, Tank has been secretly meeting their son, Skyler, at the ditch and talking with him for the last two weeks.

The night before the race, Tank meets with Skyler at the divide between their properties, barely able to speak because of how “nervous” he feels around Skyler. Skyler reveals to Tank that he told his parents that he is gay, and he tells Tank that he likes him.