Summary: Help! Someone, hurry, Magda is not feeling well, call 911!
I was just as worried as Manny when Madga came in the house, crying in pain and holding her stomach. Manny didn’t know what was going on, and I sure didn’t know. Though, I did make several guesses in the hope that ill get the cause of her suffering correct. None of my guesses where correct, and I was disappointed. Though I was disappointed, it didn’t mean I was going to stop reading. As I continued to battle my way through these chapters, I realized that she really was about to lose her child. I couldn’t help but notice that Manny was slowly, but surely, becoming a young man and most importantly, a vato firme. Manny assisted his mother when she needed help in taking Magda to the hospital. In doing so, I realized that he was taking on more responsibilities as a character, and showing maturity more often now.
The hospital was not a success though, because the family left the same way they entered: worried about Magda, and not knowing what to do. When they arrived back home, Magda was still not feeling well, and how could she be if no one has treated her yet?
While Magda was in pain, Manny stepped up once more to try and help his mother, but most importantly, his sister that was suffering. He did not have success this time around in trying to help, directly that is. What he merely received for trying to be heroic and trying to convince Rebecca that Magda should go to the hospital was just a smack to the face. Rebecca wanted Manny to go back to bed when she noticed that he was awake, because she feared that his big mouth might wake up Victor. No one wanted to wake Victor up, especially from his sleep because he could be just as dangerous when he’s intoxicated with libation. As the minutes of Magda suffering in pain continued to press on, Manny woke up his father. He surprised everyone by what he did next: he began to help the family with Magda. Victor suggested putting her in water, which was a great idea because it ended up helping Magda with her suffering. It was odd how he knew exactly what to do, and how he decided to help, instead of complaining to Manny for waking him up. Victor showed a change of heart, and in doing so, he probably saved the life of his beautiful daughter Magda.
Some time had passed, and everything seemed to be going well. Victor found a job, and Nardo did as well. Manny helped Nardo at his job, but he didn’t want Nardo’s boss to figure it out because it might hard Nardo’s chances to continue working. Mr. Giddens was not dumb, and he noticed that Manny was helping Nardo distribute the products as a delivery boy. Mr. Gibbens did fire Nardo though; he kept him on the staff, and encouraged Manny to keep helping Nardo with his work. By the way, Manny was the best delivery guy that Mr. Gibbens had around.
Manny was invited to Mr. Gibbens daughter’s party. Though, Dorothy, Mr. Gibbens daughter, did not cordially invite Manny. It was Mr. Gibbens who decided to invite Manny to his daughter’s party, and Dorothy just agreed on it. It was strange hor Mr. Gibbens just happened to invite Manny to his daughter’s party, especially when that was Mr. Gibbens first day talking to Manny. That strange fact alone smelled like trouble. It seemed far too out of Mr. Gibbens way to invite a stranger to his daughter’s party, and on top of that, Dorothy agreed with him (though, at first she didn’t like the fact that Manny was going to be at the party). Then, as Dorothy walked out, she smiled at Manny. Manny knew that she didn’t mean it as a welcoming or acceptance type of smile, it was anything but that. Right then and there, it hit me! Dorothy must have quickly planned something out to make it a living hell for Manny at the party. She did just that, as Manny was eventually driven outside by a few guys, mostly this one tough red-haired gavacho (also, everyone at the party was Caucasian/white). Though the chapter ended with Manny outside with the guys, I knew he was in for it. If Manny doesn’t come up with a good plan, he’s going home defeated. And if he does get defeated, he should kick the bucket on helping Nardo at work for Mr. Gibbens.
Quotation:“I’d stare hard into the mirror and order myself over and over to be strong… be a man!” (Martinez 174).
Reaction:The strong internal conflict shown in the quote is another example of Manny wanting to be a vato firme. Not just a vato firme, but the quote show’s what a novel that’s a bildungsroman is all about. This is one of the best examples of Manny coming of age thus far. It’s clearly stated that he was ordering himself over, and over to be stronger, more importantly, a man. This quote was said when he realized what Magda and Nardo were saying about him needing to be careful at the party was true. Manny couldn’t just walk in there with his chin facing the stars, and walking with a type of swagger that in meant to put himself above everyone else. He didn’t know anybody, and thus, the party was going to house mostly whites, if not, all whites. Manny had courage going to the party; let’s just hope he survived the harassment’s that are bound to happen.
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