Efren Divided end of chapter 10 by Ernesto Cisneros read aloud
Summary
TLDRThe script tells the story of Efren, a student running for ASB president, who faces a moral dilemma when he decides to run against his best friend, David. Despite the tension, Efren finds support in his family, particularly his siblings Max and Mia, who help him create campaign posters. Efren struggles with the campaign's artistic side but discovers the power of sincerity when he uses stencils to craft his message. The story highlights the importance of family, friendship, and personal growth as Efren learns to balance his ambitions with his relationships, leading to a heartfelt apology to David. The narrative is a poignant reminder of the challenges and rewards of pursuing one's goals while staying true to one's values.
Takeaways
- 🏠 Sunama is returning home, which will reunite the family despite the tension with David.
- 👣 African (Efren) is motivated by the prospect of having his mother back and plans to tell David the truth once she returns.
- 🚴 Efren breaks a rule by taking his siblings, Max and Mia, to school on his bicycle, which also gives him time to work on campaign posters.
- 📝 Efren struggles with creating campaign slogans and is unsure about which one to use for his school's ASB president election.
- 🍪 Miss Salas, the ASB advisor, is supportive of Efren's late entry into the election and offers him cookies as a symbol of encouragement.
- 🎨 Efren and David, despite their current rift, are both working on their respective campaign posters in the same room, showing their dedication to the election.
- 🖋️ David's artistic talent is evident in his posters, which are more advanced than Efren's, causing Efren to question his decision to run against his friend.
- 🔍 Efren finds a pack of stencils that helps him create more professional-looking letters for his posters, which he appreciates.
- 🗣️ Efren attempts to apologize to David and explain his actions, revealing that he and his family are undocumented, which is the reason behind his actions.
- 👫 The twins, Max and Mia, help Efren with his campaign posters, showing family support and involvement in his election efforts.
- ❤️ The twins' posters for Efren are heartfelt and personal, with messages like 'Best Big Brother' and 'I love him,' which deeply touch Efren.
Q & A
What is the main conflict Efren is facing?
-Efren is dealing with the internal conflict of running against his best friend David for the ASB presidency, while also dealing with the emotional turmoil of his family situation and the secret about his family's immigration status.
Why does Efren feel the need to run for ASB president?
-Efren's motivation to run for ASB president is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that he wants to make a difference in the school and perhaps prove himself capable and responsible, especially given his family's situation.
How does the family situation affect Efren's actions?
-Efren's family situation, particularly the return of his mother, influences his actions by giving him a sense of hope and motivation to improve his life and circumstances. It also adds to the pressure he feels to succeed in the election.
What is the significance of the bicycle ride to school?
-The bicycle ride to school with the twins is significant as it shows Efren's willingness to break rules and take responsibility, which foreshadows his potential as a leader. It also symbolizes his attempt to change his routine and take control of his life.
Why does Efren decide to use stencils for his campaign posters?
-Efren chooses to use stencils for his posters after struggling with his handwriting and being inspired by David's skillful artwork. The stencils allow him to create professional-looking letters, which he believes will help convey his message effectively.
How does the interaction with Miss Salas reflect Efren's character?
-Efren's interaction with Miss Salas shows his respect for authority and his gratitude. It also demonstrates his determination to succeed in the election, as he is eager to work on his campaign posters and is appreciative of the opportunity given to him.
What is the turning point in Efren's campaign preparation?
-The turning point in Efren's campaign preparation is when he realizes that the message is more important than the artwork. This realization leads him to focus on the content of his posters rather than the artistic skill involved.
How does David's artwork influence Efren's approach to his campaign?
-David's impressive artwork makes Efren feel inadequate and highlights the difficulty of the campaign without David's help. This realization prompts Efren to focus on the message of his campaign rather than the artistic aspect.
Why does Efren decide to talk to David in the workroom?
-Efren decides to talk to David in the workroom because he feels guilty about their strained relationship and the competition for the ASB presidency. He wants to explain his actions and mend their friendship.
What is the significance of the twins' involvement in making posters?
-The twins' involvement in making posters is significant as it shows family support and unity. It also provides a moment of bonding and collaboration for the family, which is particularly important given their recent challenges.
What is the emotional climax of the script?
-The emotional climax of the script is when Efren confesses to David about his family being undocumented. This moment is significant as it reveals the depth of Efren's personal struggles and the reason behind his actions.
Outlines
🤔 The Dilemma of Campaigning and Friendship
This paragraph introduces the protagonist, Efren, who is excited about his mother coming home and the prospect of reuniting his family. Despite feeling guilty about an incident with David, Efren is motivated to tell the truth and mend their relationship. He breaks his mother's rules to take his siblings to school on his bike, which also gives him time to start on his campaign posters for the ASB presidency. Efren struggles to come up with a campaign slogan and feels inferior to David's artistic skill. He eventually decides that the message, not the artwork, is what will win him the election. David helps Efren by providing him with stencils to improve his posters. The tension between the two characters is palpable as they work in silence, and Efren finally apologizes to David for his actions, revealing that he and his family are undocumented, which is the reason behind his behavior. The paragraph ends with an emotional moment between the two friends.
🎨 Family Bonding Over Campaign Posters
After school, Efren enlists the help of his twins, Max and Mia, to create campaign posters for his ASB president run. The children eagerly participate, with Mia using a ruler and Sharpie and Max using a brush and purple tempera paint. Efren, unsure about the design of his poster, uses stencils to add perfect letters. The twins complete their posters, with Mia creating a poster that reads 'Vote for Efren, Best Big Brother' in large, curvy red letters, and Max making a poster with the message 'Vote for Efren, I love him.' Efren is touched by the children's efforts and considers their posters the most amazing he has ever seen, highlighting the family's support and the innocence of their contribution to his campaign.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Family
💡Courage
💡Election
💡Campaign Posters
💡Truth
💡Competition
💡Friendship
💡Art
💡Integrity
💡Stereotype
💡Siblings
Highlights
Sunamia's return is anticipated by the family, which is expected to bring them together once again.
African feels a sense of relief and optimism about having a mother figure back in his life.
African plans to confess the truth to David and mend their relationship once Sunamia returns.
Efren breaks amma's rule by taking the twins to school on his bicycle, showing his willingness to adapt to new situations.
Efren's creative process for campaign posters is depicted, revealing his struggle with design and his eventual use of stencils.
Miss Salas's supportive role is highlighted as she allows Efren to run for ASB president despite late notice.
Efren's campaign slogan 'Efren Nava for ASB president' is chosen for its straightforward appeal.
David's artistic skill is showcased in his poster designs, which have a 3D effect through shadowing.
Efren's realization that the message, not the artwork, is crucial for his campaign reflects his growing understanding of effective campaigning.
David silently helps Efren by providing him with stencils, demonstrating a continued friendship despite their competition.
Efren's emotional confrontation with David about his actions and the reasons behind them adds depth to their relationship.
Efren's vulnerability is exposed as he struggles with the shame of his family's undocumented status.
The twins, Max and Mia, offer their artistic help to Efren, showing family support and unity.
Mia's poster design with the message 'Vote for Efren, Best Big Brother' reveals a personal and heartfelt campaign approach.
Max's independent creation of a poster with the message 'Vote for Efren, I love him' shows a child's innocent support.
Efren appreciates the twins' efforts, recognizing the emotional value of their posters despite their simplicity.
The story emphasizes the importance of family, friendship, and honesty in the face of competition and personal challenges.
Transcripts
sunama would be coming home where she
belonged and then the family would be
whole again despite feeling bad about
David the idea of having a mom back gave
African an extra spring in his step this
Friday morning once she was back he'd
finally find the courage to tell David
the truth and patch things up with him
until then he needed to focus on helping
up with everything at home and preparing
for the election
to make sure he wouldn't be late to
school anymore he broke one of amma's
rules and took the twins to school on
his bicycle with Max sitting side saddle
over the main crossbar and Mia across
the foam covered handlebars it took a
bit of getting used to they added weight
and Max's wiggling but eventually Efron
managed and riding to school also gave
him plenty of time to visit the ASP
Student Center and get started on a few
campaign posters
as he locked up his bicycle his mind
scrolled through a long list of possible
possible campaign slogans Efren Nava
someone you can trust nope not after
what he'd done to David Ephraim Nava
para Presidente nope Efron Nava make
school great again definitely not
ever Nava for ASB president Efron Nava
for ASB president he liked the sound of
that he darted up the main Stairway To
Miss salah's ASB room she always kept
her door wide open it wasn't unusual for
students some she didn't even know to
randomly stop by and reach into the
cookie jar she kept by the door good
morning masalas oh hi Efren here to work
on your campaign posters yes ma'am and
thank you again for allowing me to run
especially on such late notice well you
did attend the meeting and you do meet
all the academic requirements I'm behind
but I've got some ideas for slogans
hopefully they'll work well enough to
get me elected
ephronized the cookie jar mind if I take
a cookie not at all that's why I bake
them she said adjusting her glasses you
might want to take one to your friend
friend Miss Salas nodded yes David he's
in the work room designing posters I
think it's great that you two can
compete against each other and still be
friends yeah it is with that I can slip
the cookie into his pocket and headed
for the work room sure enough David sat
on this duel alone his forehead
scrunched in his tongue hanging out to
the side oh hey Efren said popping the
cookie beside David David looked up hey
Efren picked up the green bright green
sheet of poster paper and took a seat at
a table containing just about every kind
of art tool imaginable he reached for a
thick marker while studying the sample
fonts on the wall posters there were so
many styles he could copy unfortunately
all the cool ones were way too
complicated for him to even try he
picked up a pencil instead and tried
decided to try his best cursive that the
letters came out uneven and curved
different directions his eyes wandered
to David's posters his artwork was
amazing each of his letters had a
shadowy effect that made them pop out as
if they were 3D it must have taken him
forever to make Efren couldn't remember
ever seeing his friend former friend so
focused on anything before being
president really did mean a lot to David
maybe Efron was wrong maybe running
against him was a mistake
looking down into his own work Efron
realized how difficult this campaign
would be without David to help
effort inside if he were going to win it
would be the message not the artwork
that would get him there after a few
failed attempts at drawing his name he
considered typing out the message then
Printing and gluing the letters onto the
poster but then out of nowhere a pack of
stencils fell on top of his supplies he
looked over and watched David retake his
seat as if nothing had happened ephra
and I had the stencils all he had to do
now was trace the cutouts in Presto
perfect letters thank you that friend
said but David's efren's thank you when
unanswered at friend and David to
continue working side by side never
speaking a word until the bell rang Ms
Salah sat at her desk watching Efron and
David bow stop for one more cookie
before leaving her first period
down the hallway the two boys made their
way to class in total silence the
self-imposed silence continued well past
the 15-minute nutrition break when the
former best friends both returned to
their work room to complete another
poster
as helpful of this as the stencils were
they still took a long time to use so
when lunch hour came David and my friend
were back in the work room except this
time just as David got up to leave Akron
pushed back his stool David David paused
briefly by the doorway Efron rushed over
to him I know what it did what I did
seems messed up but I wouldn't have done
it if it didn't if I didn't have a good
reason David stopped to listen fine go
ahead and explain what was worth
stabbing me in the back over there was a
brief stare down Efron knew what he
needed to do after all David was his
best friend and wouldn't tell us all he
had nothing to fear he took a deep
breath and could feel the words building
up inside Unfortunately they weren't
alone shame came along for the ride
was he embarrassed to admit that both
amanappa were undocumented and all that
wasn't it her friends tears welled up at
the back of his throat and the back of
his as the back of his throat began to
feel raw it wasn't the truth that
embarrassed him it was breaking down in
front of David I'm sorry David and with
that effort hurried off once Efron and
the twins were home after school he
spread the supplies and poster paper
that masalas had given him over the air
him over the kitchen table Max and Mia
immediately took a seat next to him guys
I need to make a bunch of posters can I
make one ask Mia I'm good at Art huh Mia
yeah me too I want to help I appreciate
the Efren looked at the wide-eyed faces
staring up at him he didn't want a
second round of Max's silent treatment
or Mia's
all right here he said handing you to a
blank sheet of poster paper just make
sure everything is neat and easy to read
neither of the twins wasted a moment Mia
went straight for a ruler and Sharpie
while Max went for a brush and purple
tempera paint
everyone looked carefully at this poster
there was definitely something missing
he bit down on his lower lip trying to
figure out what he needed to change he
reached for the uh the packet of
stencils and got to work when he was
done he stood back and admired his
handiwork what do you guys think Mia
gave it a quick scan needs color a
friend Nava for ASB president the change
you want to see yep it needs a lot more
color match replied not bothering to
even take a look Efron rubbed his chin I
don't know I kind of like it this way
how are you two doing with the posters
me I'm pretty much done said Mia holding
up her poster that friend's heart
swelled with large curvy letters the
bright red poster red vote for Efren
best Big Brother
I'm done too see chimed in Max while
smearing the purple paint on his face I
did it myself a friend's heart sink as
he read vote for Efren I love him he
leaned down and squeezed the tens
tightly these are the most amazing
posters I have ever I have ever seen
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)