Efren Divided Ch. 7

Summary

The video script narrates the story of Efren, a young man who is struggling to balance his responsibilities as the eldest sibling after his mother's deportation. He is tasked with caring for his younger twin siblings, Max and Mia, while his father works tirelessly to bring their mother back. Efren's life is further complicated by the challenges of school, including a missed detention and a confrontation with his teacher, Mr. Garrett. Despite the emotional turmoil, Efren finds moments of support from his teacher, who encourages him to share his burdens with someone he trusts. The story also highlights Efren's resourcefulness as he tries to provide for his family, even resorting to taking leftover food from school to ensure they have enough to eat. The narrative is a poignant portrayal of resilience, family bonds, and the impact of immigration issues on everyday life.

Takeaways

• 👨‍👧‍👦 Efren is taking care of his younger twin siblings, Max and Mia, after his mother's deportation and his father's struggle to bring her back.
• 🎮 Max demands to play Battleship, and Efren finds himself exhausted from both the game and the responsibility of caring for his siblings.
• 🏡 Efren's home feels small and poor, and he is overwhelmed by the responsibility he now has to protect his siblings without his mother's presence.
• 📚 Efren is distracted from his homework by thoughts of his family's situation and the disparity between his home and the homes of other children at school.
• 🍕 APA, Efren's father, brings home a pizza for the family and later gives Efren a check to help with expenses.
• 🔧 APA's tools are stolen from the back of his truck, which are his prized possessions and a symbol of his livelihood.
• 💰 APA gives Efren a bag of coins from the laundromat to help with food expenses, emphasizing the family's financial struggles.
• 🕰️ APA arranges for an overtime job, which will require Efren to take on more responsibility for his siblings.
• 🏫 At school, Efren misses detention and confronts Mr. Garrett, his teacher, about the unfairness of his situation.
• 😔 Efren shares with Mr. Garrett that his mother has been deported, revealing the personal struggles he is facing.
• 🤔 Mr. Garrett advises Efren to let his father handle the situation and not to take on too much responsibility, but Efren feels obligated to help his family.

Q & A

What game does Max demand to play during bath time?

Max demanded to play a game of Battleship during bath time.

What movie does Maria reenact during bath time?

Maria reenacts the entire plot of The Little Mermaid during bath time.

What is Efren's emotional state after getting the twins into bed?

Efren is both exhausted and soaked after getting the twins into bed.

What does Efren do instead of starting his homework?

Instead of starting his homework, Efren pushes the thought of assignments aside and starts thinking about the homes he passes by each day.

How does Efren feel about his home after Amma's departure?

After Amma's departure, Efren feels that his home has become smaller and poorer, and it feels second-hand.

What does Efren's father, APA, bring home for the family?

APA brings home a pizza box containing pepperoni and pineapple pizza, which is Efren's favorite.

Why does APA need to work overtime and what does it mean for Efren?

APA has landed an overtime job at his boss's headquarters, which means he will be working late at night and needs Efren to take care of the twins for a longer period.

What does Efren do after school instead of joining his friends for lunch?

Instead of joining his friends, Efren sits in a corner of the cafeteria, reorganizes his backpack, and contemplates taking unopened food items from the school.

Why does Efren feel compelled to take food from the school?

Efren feels compelled to take food from the school because he knows that the money from the laundromat won't last long and he needs to provide for his siblings.

How does Mr. Garrett react when Efren talks back to him in class?

Surprisingly, Mr. Garrett does not punish Efren immediately. Instead, he allows Efren to take a seat and later shows concern for Efren's well-being, indicating a shift in their relationship.

What personal information does Efren reveal to Mr. Garrett?

Efren reveals to Mr. Garrett that his mother has been deported and his father is trying to figure out how to bring her back.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Struggles of a Young Caregiver

The first paragraph introduces Efren, a young man who is juggling the responsibilities of caring for his siblings, Max and Mia, with his own schoolwork. After a tiring bath time that involves games and a lot of splashing, Efren reflects on his circumstances, feeling the absence of his mother (Amma) deeply. Despite the homework awaiting him, he is distracted by thoughts of a better life and the reality of his small, damaged apartment. His father, APA, arrives home with a pizza and a check, which offers a small but insufficient amount of financial relief. Efren also witnesses his father's interaction with a man outside, which ends with the man taking APA's prized tools. APA reassures Efren that he has found an overtime job to support the family, but it means longer working hours and less time at home.

05:02

🤔 Confrontation and Compassion at School

In the second paragraph, Efren faces the consequences of missing a detention at school. His teacher, Mr. Garrett, confronts him in class, but instead of punishment, Mr. Garrett shows understanding and concern for Efren's well-being. After class, Mr. Garrett privately addresses Efren's uncharacteristic behavior and attire, showing empathy and offering advice. Efren opens up about his mother's deportation and his father's efforts to bring her back. Mr. Garrett encourages Efren to let his father handle the situation and to share his troubles with someone he trusts. The paragraph ends with Efren's internal conflict about his responsibility towards his siblings and his struggle to stay afloat amidst his personal challenges.

10:04

🏫 School Life and Resourcefulness

The third paragraph follows Efren's school day, highlighting his difficulty in focusing on his studies due to the emotional and financial strain he's under. Despite his struggles, Efren manages to navigate through his classes, even showing resourcefulness by collecting leftover food from the school cafeteria for his siblings. His friend David provides a moment of levity, but Efren's mind is preoccupied with the challenges he faces at home. The paragraph illustrates Efren's resilience and the harsh reality of his situation, as he must resort to taking food from the school to ensure his siblings have enough to eat.

Keywords

💡Deportation

Deportation refers to the act of a government expelling a person from the country, often due to legal issues or immigration violations. In the script, Efren's mother has been deported, which is a central event causing emotional distress and family upheaval. This situation is a driving force behind Efren's actions and his sense of responsibility towards his siblings.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility is the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or someone. In the context of the video, Efren feels a strong sense of responsibility for his younger siblings after his mother's deportation. His actions, such as organizing homework and worrying about their welfare, reflect his attempt to fulfill this responsibility despite the emotional toll it takes on him.

💡Homework

Homework is a set of tasks assigned to students by teachers to be completed outside of regular class hours. In the script, Efren's homework serves as a symbol of his struggle to maintain normalcy amidst the chaos at home. His decision to push aside his assignments to contemplate his circumstances illustrates the emotional weight he carries.

💡Financial Strain

Financial strain refers to the state of experiencing difficulty in paying debts or meeting financial obligations. The script highlights the family's financial struggles through the depiction of their living conditions and Efren's concern about how to support his family. This strain is exacerbated by the father's absence and the deportation of the mother.

💡Family Dynamics

Family dynamics pertain to the relationships and interactions between family members. The script explores the changing family dynamics after the mother's deportation, with Efren stepping up to care for his siblings and the father attempting to bring her back. These dynamics shift the roles and responsibilities within the family, impacting each member's emotional state and actions.

💡Emotional Distress

Emotional distress is a state of psychological stress and discomfort. Efren experiences emotional distress due to his mother's deportation, which manifests in his actions, such as his struggle to maintain composure in class and his contemplation of his family's situation. His emotional state is a central theme in the video, influencing his decisions and interactions.

💡Support System

A support system consists of friends, family, or other individuals who provide emotional, financial, or practical assistance. In the script, APA (possibly a relative or guardian) serves as a support system for Efren and his siblings, providing them with food and financial assistance. The support system is crucial in helping the family cope with their challenging circumstances.

💡Education

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits. The script shows the importance of education in Efren's life as he continues to attend school and engage with his studies despite his personal struggles. His interactions with Mr. Garrett, his teacher, also highlight the role of education in providing guidance and support during difficult times.

💡Trust

Trust is the reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, or surety of someone or something. In the context of the video, trust is a significant theme as Efren grapples with trusting his teacher, Mr. Garrett, with his family's situation. This trust is tested and ultimately plays a role in Efren's emotional journey and his ability to cope with his mother's deportation.

💡Coping Mechanisms

Coping mechanisms are strategies used to manage stress or overcome obstacles. Efren employs various coping mechanisms, such as organizing his assignments, stealing food from school, and seeking solace in his backpack. These actions reflect his attempts to deal with the emotional and practical challenges he faces after his mother's deportation.

💡Socioeconomic Status

Socioeconomic status refers to a person's social and economic position within a society. The script provides a glimpse into Efren's lower socioeconomic status through the description of his family's living conditions and their struggle to make ends meet. This status impacts the family's experiences and Efren's outlook on his future.

Highlights

Max and Maria's bath time leads to a game of Battleship and a reenactment of The Little Mermaid, resulting in a lot of splashing and a tired Efren.

Efren reflects on his home environment and feels the absence of his mother's presence, which used to brighten the world.

Efren struggles with homework, distracted by his thoughts about his family's situation and his mother's deportation.

APA, Efren's father, brings home pizza for the children and has a conversation with a man about his tools.

APA secures an overtime job and entrusts Efren with the responsibility of taking care of his siblings.

Efren is confronted by his teacher, Mr. Garrett, about missing detention, leading to an emotional outburst from Efren.

Mr. Garrett shows unexpected empathy towards Efren's situation and encourages him to share his problems with someone he trusts.

Efren reveals to Mr. Garrett that his mother has been deported and his father is trying to bring her back.

Efren feels the pressure of responsibility for his siblings and is determined to help his family in any way he can.

Efren is financially strained and resorts to taking leftover food from the school cafeteria to ensure he has enough to eat.

Efren is caught in the act of taking food from the school by his friend David, but manages to cover up his actions.

Efren's father, APA, provides him with money from his laundromat business to help with food expenses.

Efren's emotional turmoil is evident as he struggles with his mother's absence and the responsibility of caring for his siblings.

Efren's teacher, Mr. Garrett, notices a change in Efren's behavior and appearance, indicating his concern for the student's well-being.

Efren's friend David offers to accompany him to face the consequences of missing detention, showing camaraderie and support.

Efren's father works tirelessly, even taking on a second job, to support the family after his wife's deportation.

Efren's emotional state is fragile as he deals with his mother's deportation and the impact it has on his family.

Transcripts

Efron divided by Ernesto Cisneros

chapter 7.

chapter 7 during bath time Max had a had

demanded a game of Battleship while

Maria

reenacted the entire plot of The Little

Mermaid too bad for Efren both games

called for a whole lot of splashing

by the time Efron got them into bed he

was as beat as he was soaked

with the twins now asleep he headed to

the kitchen table to start an hour or so

worth of homework waiting for him but

instead Efron pushed the thought of his

assignments aside he looked around at

the apartment thinking about the homes

he passed each day to and from school

he thought about the grassy front yards

large enough to play soccer in

he tried to picture himself running

around like he'd seen the other kids at

his school doing

only no matter how hard he tried he

couldn't seem to do it his mind simply

refused

why it said what's the point you're

never going to have anything even close

to that not you

ever shut his eyes and took a deep

breath trying to fight the churning

feeling in his gut he missed his Amma

her smile her laughed her cooking and

her hugs but will he really missed was

the way she seemed to brighten the

entire world

now that she was gone his life felt well

second hand

he scanned the entire studio apartment

looked up at the water damage ceiling

then at the mismatched pieces of

furniture that littered the room and of

course down at the two twin mattresses

covering most of the floor

never before had his home felt so small

so poor

his family didn't have much but somehow

Amma had managed to keep this back

from sinking in now it would have become

his job to protect Max and Mia but how

he unzipped his backpack and organized

the assignments by a degree of

difficulty

easiest first

he stared at the sample sentences for

language arts Sally's mother bakes

wonderful cookies mother

was the subject bakes was the verb and

cookies

was the direct object he turned to the

kitchen and wondered if Emma would ever

come back ever step foot in this kitchen

again

just then

he heard the rattling of keys and then

the metal screened to the front door

creaked open APA

Evan greeted him with the hug Abba

squeezed back holding on a bit longer

than usual

here he said handing him a pizza box put

this in the fridge it's for the three of

you tomorrow about turned towards the

door I'll be right back

Peaks are Max and mayor were going to be

excited Ephraim peeked Inside the Box

pepperoni and pineapple his favorite

he approached the window and saw a bot

talking to a man they were standing at

the back of a bus pickup truck

the man wore jeans and boots like a bar

and said something that made a boss

shake his head then about said something

to make the man not before offering his

hand

then two then two men climbed onto the

back of the truck and unfastened the

metal tool pin

Abbas tools everyone couldn't believe it

they were a bus prized possessions no

matter how much he used them he always

kept them looking new

um I would sometimes joke calling the

collection his fourth child not wanting

to seem nosy or metiche as Amma would

say Efren decided to get back to his

homework

about entered holding a check in his

hand Efron couldn't help himself is that

enough money to get a mob back

no

but it's a start APA looked over at the

twins that's what we need to talk about

I landed in an overtime job at my boss's

headquarters only it's late at night so

I need to know if he if you can handle

the little ones a bit longer

Efron tried to make sense of what he

just heard yeah but wait how are you

going to work day and night when will

you sleep

it's only temporary besides apophlectus

biceps your old man is made of steel

you don't need to worry about me okay

I'll be working as a soup as a super

free cleaning crew

they'll be doing most of the work I'll

just be supervising

APA went over to a drawer in the kitchen

area and came back with a bag full of

coins a mustache of laundromat money

here for food he handed the coins to a

friend between this and the check I just

got we'll be fine now go to bed it's

late everyone wrapped himself in his

blanket and watched that Osprey on some

deodorant then grab a slice of cold

pizza and headed off to work I thought

was super too a real Superman

the next day after dropping off the

twins Evan hurried to class the first

bell rang but he waited by the door

watching the other students enter what

was he going to tell Mr Garrett about

having missed the detention

what what you doing it was David

writing on his skateboard while bouncing

to a reggae beat that only he could hear

after instruct enjoying the last minutes

of my life what do you mean

I didn't show up for detention yesterday

effort inside David picked up his board

oh wow how about I go in with you he

might yell at me for bringing in my

skateboard and forget all about it come

on

like most of David's plans this one

didn't work out either Efron entered the

classroom Mr Garrett Rose to his feet

looked up at the clock and waited for

the Bell before saying a word

Mr Nava do you mind explaining why you

chose to disregard your detention

yesterday

Efron's stomach twisted and for a tiny

moment he thought he might be sick he

took a deep breath but Mr Garrett would

not let up Mr Nava I'm waiting

everyone's blood boiled after everything

he'd been through now this he looked up

at Mr Garrett and glared why he said his

anger spitting out it's not like it's

not like you even care

the class went silent students looked

around mouth

melts that at disbelief efren's chest

Rose and fell all he could do was dig

his nails into his palm Mr Garrett stood

there perfectly still perfectly silent

he eyed afren's closed fists wrinkling

clothes and sloppy uncombed hair effort

felt the room shrink and tugged at his

shirt uncomfortably

strangely though Mr Garrett's goals

seemed his lesson perhaps he'd just come

up with the perfect consequence for him

why don't you take a seat Effron the

class stirred once more not only had

Efren talked back Mr Grant had actually

Let It Go heck he even addressed effort

by his first name that simply never

happened ever took a seat aware that all

eyes were on Now on him Mr Garrett's IC

teacher voice suddenly returned now

class let's begin a half an hour later

Mr Garrett had completely filled out the

Whiteboard with giant timeline of World

War II okay now

okay now that I've gone over the

material go ahead and jot down the notes

silently

Efren couldn't explain what had happened

when class finally ended he gathered his

things and started walking out but sure

enough Mr Garrett called him over Efren

walked back to the teacher's desk but Mr

Garrett didn't say a word just stood

waiting for the last student to exit

Miss tommark showing up Blake talking

back this lack of responsibility is so

unlike you he finally said is everything

all right Efren didn't answer

the safest thing for him was to keep his

head down and shut his eyes tight enough

to keep the tears from escaping

Mr Garrett's voice softened

we adults can be pretty nearsighted

sometimes

we forget that kids have problems too I

mean you normally come to class ready to

learn and your clothes I've never seen

you without perfectly creased lines

before

Evan's thoughts turn to Amma and before

he could pull his sound out of his

pocket and wipe his face a few tears

managed to escape

I know what it's like to have one's life

turned upside down he turned to a frame

on his desk at a picture of his ex-wife

and two kids then back at a friend you

my friend have that same look

Efron brushed his face with the fold of

his sleeve and looked up at the photo Mr

Garrett's Ex-Wives had long wavy hair a

honey beige complexion and caramel eyes

just like a ma a Latina he married a

Latina

did this mean he could now trust Mr

Garrett after all the last thing he

wanted to do was put up by in danger too

if he were arrested the entire family

would most likely be uprooted like some

Uninvited weed and discarded across the

border

Mr Garrett's brow crickled crinkled as

he studied efren's face look Efren you

don't have to tell me what's going on

with you but you might want to consider

telling someone you can trust efren's

eyes panned from Mr Garrett and back to

the photo of his ex-wife and two kids a

boy and a girl for a friend it was now

or never my mom

she got deported the words seemed to

escape alongside his Rogue tears Mr

Garrett sighed deeply

I'm so sorry to hear that what about

your father

he's trying to figure it out out how to

bring her back

Mr Garrett took another deep breath

listen I'm not saying it will be easy

but you need to leave this up to your

father you're just a kid and this is too

much for you to place all on your

shoulders trust your father let him

handle this okay

Ephraim wanted to accept what his

teacher had said but thoughts of Max and

Mia immediately feel to said who would

protect them while if I was trying to

get on my back no a friend was the

oldest I must a mom being deported was

his problem too

he would need to help out every way he

could no matter what thank you sir said

our friend Mr Garrett squeezed his eyes

shut and said I just wish I could do

more

Ephraim reached for the back of his neck

and rubbed it the worry the pressure

they were wearing him down so much that

he barely made it through math class

after solving Mr covey's latest math

brain teaser he reached for the duct

tape wallet APPA had made for him

and pulled out the money he had left

over from the Food Truck the night

before he patted his pocket making sure

he still had a Maz laundromat money

the bell rang Efren joined the students

Stampede to the lunch line he wasn't

hungry but knew he couldn't afford to

pass up a free meal even if it was just

a school lunch to be fair the food the

school served wasn't that bad but it

couldn't compete with the lunches am I

used to make for him each day the

burrito the burrito he picked up just

beans and yellow cheese was greasy and

runny and yet the corners of the flour

tortilla somehow managed to stay hard

and cold

Efren looked around at the side choices

the peanut butter crackers string cheese

packages

and celery sticks and wondered which

item maximia would most likely eat but

what if the food is spoiled Efren

couldn't risk it and ended up going with

the crackers and juice box then instead

of joining up with David and the rest of

his friends

Efren took a seat at the far corner of

the cafeteria he spent most of his break

staring at the clock overhead and

carefully reorganizing the stuff in his

backpack

at 11 56 a.m the afternoon supervisors

took their Precision along the stairway

leading to the main room lunch was about

to end and he needed to hurry he Scout

scouted the area and headed towards the

empty table efferent's heartbeat like a

jackhammer he knew that a Mas laundromat

money wouldn't last long and needed to

do something about it stealing food from

school wasn't only wrong it was

embarrassing if any kids caught him

they'd never let him live it down

regardless effer knew what he needed to

do he unzipped his backpack and headed

to the table closest to the main office

kids didn't like to hang out around

there he leaned up against the clock

closest trash bin and grabbed some of

the unopened bags of celery and crackers

as soon as I thought that sleep tossed

away

quickly he zipped up his bag shut hey

Efren David called out as he ran over

Efron almost leaped out of his pants as

he hid his backpack behind him where

were you said David as he walked over to

him and extended his hand Ephraim

reached over to him and the two did

their usual dab ending in a quick

thumbeline dumb wrestling match Efren

hoped David wouldn't notice the

trembling of his hands and voice oh just

trying to come up with some new poster

ideas for your campaign yeah I can't

believe Jennifer stole my ideas anyways

come check this out some dude online

actually drank a glass of milk through

his nose I saw her yeah sure David

grinned and rushed back to his table

Efron dropped his set inside how did

things get this bad