How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
I tried warning him. I tried explaining how ribs crack easy as dry twigs, and how a punch sometimes welcomes paralysis. But he wouldn't listen. He practically begged to sign up, and you could tell Lencho was disappointed at such a scrawny catch. He wanted guys like Nardo and Sammy Fuentes—dangers known to everyone. (7.38)
When Manny's bud Albert, a skinny little fellow, decides to join the boxers, Manny is worried about his pal—after all, there are some major physical dangers in boxing and Manny tries to give his friend fair warning. Just check out how he compares ribs to "twigs" and talks about "paralysis." But when it comes to fitting in with the boxing team, Albert wants to be part of the group, and that's way more important to him than all the violence afoot.
Quote #8
In the bleachers, it was a circus. […] But then needling stuff, like arguing and weasely bragging, sparked between some black and brown guys. A few even began to shove each other and spit into arguments. Then the bell to the second round clanged and everybody right away sat down. (7.104)
So the boxing match turns out to be just as violent as Manny predicted: There are bloody noses and black eyes, and more punches that we can count. But the violence of the boxing match doesn't stay contained within the ring either. Nope, instead we find it spreading into the bleachers, where folks are getting angry at each other in between the rounds. The good thing is that the violence stops when the fight in the ring starts up again. It's like a seesaw.
Quote #9
Then, maybe to keep me from saying anything more, she struck me again, this time with mean, chopping strokes. Zigzags of lightning connected the seconds as she cut down smack after smack on my neck and on my shoulder. The air had a sharp, splintery edge. I arched my back, cowering, but I didn't want to raise my arm to cover myself, thinking she'd stop hitting me sooner if I didn't do anything. (8.56)
There's more family violence afoot in the Hernandez household, and this time it's coming from Mom. When she's scared that Manny will wake up her hubby with his loud worrying about Magda and her fever, Mom takes matters into her own hands. Literally. What do you think of Mom's actions here? And what about Manny's response? He seems to know just how to make sure that the violence stops as quickly as possible. It's as if he's a total veteran at getting hit these days…