Efren Divided Ch. 7
Summary
TLDRThe 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
- ๐จโ๐งโ๐ฆ 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.
- ๐ฎ Max demands to play Battleship, and Efren finds himself exhausted from both the game and the responsibility of caring for his siblings.
- ๐ก 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.
- ๐ 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.
- ๐ APA, Efren's father, brings home a pizza for the family and later gives Efren a check to help with expenses.
- ๐ง APA's tools are stolen from the back of his truck, which are his prized possessions and a symbol of his livelihood.
- ๐ฐ APA gives Efren a bag of coins from the laundromat to help with food expenses, emphasizing the family's financial struggles.
- ๐ฐ๏ธ APA arranges for an overtime job, which will require Efren to take on more responsibility for his siblings.
- ๐ซ At school, Efren misses detention and confronts Mr. Garrett, his teacher, about the unfairness of his situation.
- ๐ Efren shares with Mr. Garrett that his mother has been deported, revealing the personal struggles he is facing.
- ๐ค 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
๐ 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.
๐ค 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.
๐ซ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กDeportation
๐กResponsibility
๐กHomework
๐กFinancial Strain
๐กFamily Dynamics
๐กEmotional Distress
๐กSupport System
๐กEducation
๐กTrust
๐กCoping Mechanisms
๐กSocioeconomic Status
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
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