How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #4
I would deliver one last direct shot on Marisela's arm and jump out of our house, the slam of the screen door burying her cries of anger, and I'd gladly go help Abuelita plant her wild lilies or jasmine or heliotrope or cilantro or hierbabuena in red Hills Brothers coffee cans. (4)
What a contrast. The narrator leaves behind a super-violent household (direct shots, slamming doors, cries of anger) and goes to a healthy, growing garden at her grandmother's house. While at her own house everything is destructive, Abuelita gives her something productive to do.
Quote #5
This was one of Apá's biggest complaints. He would pound his hands on the table, rocking the sugar dish or spilling a cup of coffee and scream that if I didn't go to mass every Sunday to save my goddamn sinning soul, then I had no reason to go out of the house, period. Punto final. He would grab my arm and dig his nails into me to make sure I understood the importance of catechism. Did he make himself clear? (8)
Wow. This guy needs to work on his marketing techniques. If he wants his daughter to obey him and go to church, maybe he shouldn't directly associate church with pounding a table, screaming, and digging his nails into his daughter's arm (ouch). Talk about counterproductive.
Quote #6
[M]y older sisters would pull me aside and tell me if I didn't get to mass right this minute, they were all going to kick the holy s*** out of me. (8)
Okay, we have to admit this is kind of funny. The narrator is in trouble because she won't go to church—so she's rejecting holiness in a way—but her sister's respond by threatening to beat "the holy s***" out of her. In the end they're just reinforcing their father's violent threats, hoping that if she falls in line, they'll spare her a real beating from their dad.