Esperanza talks about the sky in comparison to the world. She uses the sky as a metaphor for the good things in the world, and how there's not enough to go around. She also talks about her classmate, Darius, who is usually class clown. One day, Darius said that a could was God.
After her mother died, Alicia had to inherit her mother's position at home. She studied at a university in hope of not having a poor future. She studies very hard, working until the early hours and sees the mice.
Esperanza talks about Rosa Vargas' many kids and how they misbehave all the time. Their father left their family without any money one day. She talks about how the neighbors don't care what the Vargas kids do anymore. From the context, it seems that Angel Vargas killed herself and nobody cared.
Esperanza shares her thoughts about racism in different neighborhoods in the city. People of a different skin color are afraid when they go to her neighborhood and vice versa.
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.
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