Mexican WhiteBoy

Danny is preparing to head out for the evening with Uno and his crew when his mom calls. She begins telling him how beautiful the weather has been in San Francisco and filling him in on all the fun she and Julia are having. She tells him about her photography and how Randy has hung enlargements of her photos on the walls of his home. After an awkward silence, Danny can tell she is crying. He asks if she is okay, and she says, “I’m sorry. I’m just—there’s nothing wrong. Not really. Maybe that’s the problem” (191).Wendy composes herself and tells Danny how big and beautiful Randy’s apartment is, but that the only people she sees are the housekeeper and the woman who cooks for them. Randy works endless hours and Julia is always at her dance studio. What she thought was a dream come true has left her alone and lonely. As Danny struggles to respond, his mom tells him she and Julia are moving back. She says, “I miss our life. I miss my son” (192). Randy is understanding of her desire to return to home and is even considering getting a place in San Diego. Wendy starts sobbing again, and even “after everything, [Danny] still hates to hear his mom cry” (192). She shares with Danny how tired she is of trying to find “the one” who will make her life complete: “But no man can make it better, Danny. That’s what I’ve figured out in this giant apartment. And it’s not even their fault. I could meet Prince Charming and it wouldn’t be any different. ‘All better’ isn’t something you can find in a man” (193).

Danny’s first response is to confirm that she was happy with his father. She tells him she was, and that his father was the only person she’d ever been in love with, but that some things transpired that made it impossible for them to be together. Danny digs his nails into his skin and presses his mom for more information. He persists, but all she will tell him is that “He’s a good man […] That’s all you need to know, I think” (193). She refuses to say anything negative about Danny’s dad, regardless of the truth. She continues confessing how she does not have it figured out—that kids don’t really understand that their parents don’t know everything, that they’re human, still figuring out who they are and what it all means. Danny knows she is withholding information but doesn’t press her on it. He says, “I miss my dad” (194). She acknowledges his pain and apologizes for leaving, but she tells Danny it was for the best because now she knows what she’s been “looking for was right in front of me [her] this whole time” (194), and that she is coming home to “try and make everything right” (194). They say goodbye and Danny approaches Sofia with questions about his father. Sofia is honest with Danny and tells him that his father hit his mother, and when “that thing happened at the beach he got in trouble” (195). Danny appears surprised but doesn’t respond, other than to thank Sofia for telling him. Then he heads out with Uno and others.

Uno is committed to moving to Oxnard and plans to tell his mom about his fresh start when she gets home from work. He knows she won’t take it well, but he knows he needs to tell her. When she comes in, Uno tells her he wants to talk to her, but she goes straight into her room to change. When she comes out, she announces, “Me and Ernesto’s havin’ a baby. I’m pregnant” (197). Uno congratulates her, and she goes on about what they’ll name the baby. They’re hoping for a boy. Uno points to Manny being Ernesto’s son, and she says, “she means a son that’s not sick” (198). Uno’s mom tells him that they both love Manny, but that he’s not there and “Ernesto wants a son with his own blood here. It’s nothing against you or Manny” (198). She then asks Uno what it was he wanted to say. Without pausing to hear his response, she gives Uno a list of chores to do before Ernesto gets home.