- Ernie Abreu cheats on his wife and lies to his father-in-law in order to get money to move to the US for better opportunities. However, he eventually stops supporting his family. - He gets a new job, marries again, and starts a new family in the US. Over time, he loses connection with his original family in the Dominican Republic. - After pressure from friends in the US, he eventually brings his first family from the DR to live with him but continues to neglect them.

1. *
Ernie Abreu & Nelson Veras

2. * Cheats on wife, lies to father in-law in order to
secure money and come to U.S to make more
money
* When arriving in Miami, he sends money to support
family but eventually stops
* Gets new job, gets married, and starts a new family
* Starts to lose connection with family and meets new
people in the United States that constantly remind
him to support his family
* Eventually he brings his family from D.R to the U.S
but still walks out on them
*

3. * “He didn’t dreamed about his familia and wouldn’t for many
years. He dreamed instead of gold coins, like the ones that
had been salvaged from the many wrecks about our island,
staked high as sugar cane” (pg. 169)
* Ramon acted defensively when Needle challenged him as to
why he was not supporting his family. In Ramon’s defense,
he stated that he has bills to pay for, claiming that his house
electricity bill is high due to having 88 light bulbs. In result,
Needle calls him “Come mierda. Nobody has that many light
bulbs in their house” (p. 187).
* “She called Papi a desgraciado and a puto of the highest
order for abondning them, a traitor worm, an eater of public
lice, a cockless, ball-less cabron” (pg. 191-92)
*

4. * When accepting the money, Was Ramon’s true
intention to provide for his family or did he seize
this opportunity to escape his life in DR?
* What are some comparisons we can draw from Papi
and the other father figures we’ve read about so
far? Focus more on the negative comparisons, such
as different acts of selfishness.
* At what point do you think Ramon’s selfishness took
over his ideal goal of providing for his family?
* Quote on page 164
*

5. * “Eulalio wasn’t paying culo for rent. Which
explained why he had so many fine clothes and
didn’t work nearly as much as the rest”
(pg.174).
* “…jump right into the lowest branches of the
American establishment. That leap was what
he envisioned for himself, not some slow
upward crawled through the mud” (pg. 190).
* “He talks a big game but when you’re at the
final inning, you get nada” (pg. 205).
*

6. * How do you feel about Ramon bashing on
Eulalio’s freeloading meanwhile he is in the
same predicament?
* At what point in the story do you feel like
Ramon could have “swallowed” his
pride, which would have altered his life?
* To what other Latino characters does Ramon’s
ego and pride mostly relate to?
*

7. * “One night Abuelo handed papi a cigar box
stuffed with cash. The bills were new and
smelled of ginger. Here it is. Make your
children proud” (Pg. 166)
* “He lived in Nilda’s house, shared her bed,
paid no rent, ate her food…” (Pg. 186)
* “He work through that period, got a raise and
the highest performance rating in his
department and the shittiest schedule in the
entire fabrica” (Pg. 194).
*

8. * Although he was given many chances as seen
on the quotes, do you feel that he deserved
these chances, despite his high level of
selfishness?
* Considering his few sacrifices, do you feel
Ramon had the potential to be a good provider
for his family?
*

9. * A male with no name or age that has fallen to
social injustice because he doesn’t fit in due to
his appearance.
* Feels like a superhero, fighting these injustices
(evil).
* Finds himself in a conflict between fearing an
operation that can change his life and running
away from society for good.
*

10. * “we’re going to make you a girl… You ever
been a girl before?... He says STRENGTH and
the fat boy flies off of him and he’s running
down the street and the others are following”
(pg. 156).
* “So many wish him to fall. So many wish him
gone” (pg. 155).
* “I’ve been fighting evil” (pg. 160).
* “He runs, down towards town, never slipping
or stumbling. Nobody’s faster” (pg. 160).
*

11. * Based on these quotes, what do you think is
the overarching theme of the story?
* What do you think he is trying to run away
from?
* Did you like this story, or was it a little to
vague to understand?
*