The Tomato Game by N.V.M. Gonzalez (Short Story)

Summary

The transcript centers on Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, a lecturer at Trans-Pacifica University, who writes to Greg about a colleague named Soapy. Soapy, a self-proclaimed importer and exporter of brides, arranges a marriage between an old man, Lolo, and a young Filipina, Alice. The agreement also involves sending a young man named Tony to school under the guise of being Lolo's nephew. As the story unfolds, trust issues and financial arrangements come into play, with humorous references to ripe tomatoes along the journey.

Takeaways

• 📘 The story involves a man named Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, a lecturer at Trans-Pacifica University in the U.S., writing to a man named Greg.
• 👔 Nestor describes a colleague, Superior Muhammad, also known as 'Soapy,' who is a lawyer involved in matchmaking or 'importing and exporting brides.'
• 💍 Soapy arranges a marriage between an old man, referred to as Lolo, and a young Filipina named Alice.
• ✂️ Alice is a hairdresser and is seen as having potential to succeed in the new arrangement.
• 👨‍👦 The deal also includes Tony, a young man who will be treated as the old man's nephew and sent to school.
• 🏫 Part of the arrangement involves paying $800 a year for Tony's schooling, which is handled through Trans-Pacifica University.
• 💸 Lolo, the old man, has paid the costs in advance, trusting Soapy with the arrangement.
• 🚕 The script hints at doubts about Tony's legitimacy as Soapy may have used similar schemes before.
• 🍅 The smell of ripe tomatoes is mentioned as a backdrop while Greg and Soapy drive down the road, reflecting on the situation.
• 😕 Greg feels conflicted, sensing that Lolo may have been deceived by Soapy's business dealings.

Q & A

Who is the author of the story 'Tomato Game'?

The author is Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez.

Who is writing the letter in the story, and to whom is it addressed?

The letter is written by the narrator, who is also a lecturer at Trans-Pacifica University, to a man named Greg.

Who is Soapy, and what is his occupation?

Soapy, referred to as Superior Muhammad, is a lawyer who calls himself an importer-exporter of brides, arranging marriages for people.

What is the central arrangement made by Soapy in the story?

Soapy arranges for an old man named Lolo to marry a young Filipina woman named Alice, with the additional arrangement that a young man named Tony would be presented as Lolo's nephew, whom Lolo would send to school.

Who is Tony, and what role does he play in the arrangement?

Tony is a young man, possibly a Taxi Driver, who is part of the arrangement. He is to be treated as the nephew of Lolo, and Lolo would pay for his schooling.

What is Alice's background, and why is she part of this arrangement?

Alice is a hairdresser from the Central Market. She had someone who claimed to be her aunt, and she was likely seeking money. She is part of the marriage arrangement with the old man Lolo.

What is the significance of the school for Tony in the story?

The school represents part of the agreement, where Lolo would send Tony to school. This was part of the old man’s responsibility in exchange for marrying Alice.

Why does the narrator feel guilty about the arrangement?

The narrator feels terrible because the old man Lolo trusted Soapy throughout the arrangement, yet Tony seems to be a fake 'nephew' arranged to get benefits, which feels deceptive.

What does the repeated reference to the smell of ripe tomatoes symbolize in the story?

The smell of ripe tomatoes, combined with the poor job of gathering them, seems to symbolize the decay or moral rot underlying the arrangement between Soapy, Lolo, and the others.

What is the general tone or atmosphere conveyed in the story?

The tone of the story is one of discomfort and moral ambiguity, with themes of deception and manipulation under a façade of formal agreements and marriages.