How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
His father asked Tuna where she lived. She pointed to a dented old Winnebago at the far end of the parking lot.
"Okay, but where do you keep it?" Mickey asked.
"Right there."
"You live at the Walmart?"
"They let motor homes in for free," Tuna explained. "We got electric and water, everything we need. It's not so awful." (9.23-27)
The Crays are not wealthy, but at least they live in a house in the ground, and have their own business. Meeting up with Tuna and learning that she lives in the parking lot of a big box store is hard for them to take. On top of that, her dad beats her, so while the Walmart parking lot might not be awful, other aspects of Tuna's life are. Not only if she money poor, she's family poor, too.
Quote #5
"If we lose this job," Wahoo said, "the bank's going to take our house." (11.78)
This problem has been at the front of Wahoo's mind since his dad stopped working, and he seems more upset about this idea than Mickey does. This is a common issue with middle-class poverty, having lots of debt and no savings for emergencies.
Quote #6
"What if the cops just take a report and send her back home? Or lock up her old man, like you said—the where the heck's she supposed to live?" (15.63)
Many times, there are no good options for people who live in poverty. Many of their family members are also poor and can't take in another mouth to feed, or simply don't have the space, or they can't buy the ticket to fly to where they do have family. It is hard all around.