Never Flinch

As Trig explores and reflects on his past, he reveals that his nickname, “Trig”—which is not connected to his actual name, Donald Gibson—is a reference to Roy Rogers, a singer and actor. Roy Rogers’s famous horse, a palomino named Trigger, served as the inspiration for Trig’s nickname, which he got from his father. Roy Rogers named his horse Trigger for his speed and intelligence, making the nickname ironic for Trig, since his father often criticized him for being slow, nervous, and less intelligent. The ceramic horse was a gift from Trig’s father, and its presence in Trig’s life is a potent symbol of Trig’s childhood trauma, his internal conflict with the memory of his father, and his motivation in killing innocents.

Trig’s father sarcastically calling him “Trigger” or “good old Trigger” evokes the disdain Trig’s father showed him during his childhood. Many of Trig’s memories center on his father criticizing and beating him, with only a few memories, specifically during intermissions at hockey games, having any positivity. Trig’s decision to kill Barbara, Betty, Corrie, and Kate in Holman Rink reflects the importance of these memories for Trig, as they conflict with his overarching conflict with his father.