Esperanza talks about Marin; Louis' girl cousin. Marin wishes to be with her boyfriend in Puerto Rico, but doesn't have enough money yet. Louis' parents are thinking about sending her back to her mother for being bad. Marin is only seen out at night waiting after she's done babysitting her cousins. She waits under the streetlight, waiting for someone to change her life.
Esperanza meets Louie and his family, who live in Meme's basement apartment. He's the oldest in his family of sisters and had two cousins. His girl cousin, Marin or Maris, always babysits his sisters and wears heavy makeup. His boy cousin owns a yellow cadillac. Once they rode in the cadillac, and had to leave to escape from the cops that were chasing after them.
Esperanza meets 'Meme' Ortiz, whose name is actually Juan Ortiz. Meme's family moved in after Cathy's family moved out. Behind Meme's house, that Cathy's father built, is a big tree where the kids had their First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest, in which Meme won and broke both of his arms.
Esperanza and Nenny visit an old junk store owned by an old man. The man shows Nenny an old music box, but then says it isn't for sale.
Esperanza compares herself with her sister Nenny. Although they don't look alike physically, they are alike in personality. For example, their laughs are the same. She says some of the houses look like the ones from Mexico and Nenny laughs.
Esperanza gives $5 to two girls so they can buy a bicycle. Rachel is the older sister and Lucy is the younger sister, they're both from Texas. After buying the bike from Tito, all three of them ride down the street past all of their houses.
Esperanza talks about her different neighbors, including Cathy, the so-called Queen of Cats. She describes her house as a "cat heaven". She quickly makes friends with Cathy and is reminded about her neighborhood.
Esperanza talks about the origin of her name and how she dislikes it. She was named after her great grandmother, whom she describes as a horse of a woman (meaning she was wild like a horse). Her great grandmother was captured (my group said she was possibly raped?) by her great grandfather. She wishes to change her name.
Esperanza talks about the difference between boys and girls. She uses her family as an example. Although she's friends with her sister, Nenny, she longs for a real best friends that will understand her.
Esperanza talks about the different types of hair everyone in her family has. She spends more time talking about her mother's hair than everyone else in her family. She spends more time talking about her mother's hair than everyone else in her family. She associates her mother's hair with comforting things like bread, bed, and rain. This chapter makes me feel nostalgic about moments with my own mother.
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