This is The Writer's Voice, new fiction from The New Yorker.

I'm Deborah Treesman, fiction editor at The New Yorker.

On this episode of The Writer's Voice, we'll hear Lauren Groff read her story, Brawler,

from the May 13th, 2019 issue of the magazine.

Groff has published three novels, including Arcadia in 2012 and Fates and Furies in 2015.

Her second story collection, Florida, which came out last year, won the Story Prize for

2018 and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Now here's Lauren Groff. Brawler.

Sarah came into the blaze late.

The boys already leaping, frog-like across the deck.

The girls gone bald in silicone caps.

In the afternoon sunlight, the pool was harsh.

She left it only this morning in the soft plum dawn.

The other team was lined up around the eastern gutter doing its cheer, a slow, solemn clapping that built into syncopated yips and the

pounding of feet on metal. The noise made pox of confusion across the surface of the water.

The diving coach turned to see her coming across the wet deck.

You're late, he yelled over the other team's noise, but he looked relieved.

She shrugged and took off her anirac to begin her stretching, but he grabbed her hand

and lifted it to examine the bloodied knuckles.

Brawler, he said.

The other girls told me what happened and I didn't think they let you out.

She took her hand away.

...