Parents
Parents are a key symbol across many of these stories, representing authority and acceptance. Many of the protagonists are worried about what their parents think, and try their best to avoid disappointing them.
University
For many of the protagonists, university represents success and achievement. This is particularly true for Elaine in "Accepted," who struggles after being rejected from Stanford.
Deceit
Deceit is a key motif in this collection. Hua's protagonists often navigate the fine line between deception and necessity, experiencing guilt and indecisiveness. For example, in "The Responsibility of Deceit," Calvin feels that it is necessary to lie to his parents about his sexuality to avoid being rejected by them.
Kingsway's photographs
In "Line, Please," Kingsway is a famous melodrama star, and as a result, he is successful in attracting women. He takes pictures of the women to look back on when he is inevitably no longer successful, saying that "I believed that someday, if- when- the cosmic prank ended and I reclaimed my destiny as a loser, I'd have the pictures to remind me of my time in the stars." As such, the photographs represent Kingsway's attempt to hold onto the past.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a key motif in all of the stories, connecting them together. Hua's protagonists are from various immigrant communities in San Francisco, and Hua successfully paints a vivid picture of the city in her writing.
