Warriors
Sydney has used the simile of warrior and champions for all the humans who come back to their homes. He says, “We were all, I thought, counting on the probability that, simply by living in a big North American city, we would be greeted as warriors on our arrival back home by those who knew us and those who didn’t alike. Greeted as champions.” He compares his return to a fighter because every person who leaves his house remains in a constant state of struggle. Such people not only leave their homes and families but also the people who surround them and their lives in some way. So, according to Sydney if they return, they must be greeted as champs.
Crab
The simile of crab has been used for Sid who moves forward in her life after abandoning her son and also move sideways by changing her identity and by transitioning herself as a male. Sid leaves Jonathan, when he was just nine years old, in order to achieve her dreams and to get the satisfaction out of her life which would not be possible if she stays with her family. She does not compromise and keeps on moving in such a way which is considered impossible by most of the people in her society.
Cold Weather
The metaphor of cold weather has been used by Sydney for the cold isolation that she faces at Canada because of her half-formed identity. She tries to explain that she doesn’t belong to that place because of its harsh and severe environment which is a metaphor for the lack of acceptance of her identity by the society and her family. She says that she can’t tolerate the cold weather.
