Z lived his life straight out of a 1920’s mob novel series; , he handled all his business in the shadows, and while in the sunlight he was everyone’s go to guy. Back in the late 70’s, there were many choice words used to describe my Uncle Z; I guess it all just depended on the time of day in which you saw him.
Very nice description of Z
Our mother worked extremely long hours; she and our aunt had successfully created a small chain of restaurants called “La Estrella.” It was safe to say that we knew how blessed we were due to her success, but we also learned success came with a price. For my siblings and me, our silence was always due on the first of the month.
What a hard working family.
By 9 a.m. he’s on the road off to collect the interest on the loans he’s currently owed on the streets.
Is he still in the business or is he really on a job
Growing up within our traditional home, we learned at a young age that going with the flow of things would help prolong peace for as long as possible
describing the setting
Suddenly, it all made sense to me within our family my uncle is the first man to scold you if you aren’t doing well in school and also the first to reward you if you are doing well.
This will probably be me.
I think I am going to start referring to Z as the Godfather.
great decision.
“This is not a life you choose; it chooses you and it doesn’t come cheap…. You come across scammers and people who challenge your honor. In this game you cannot allow that to happen because it makes you weak,”
The story did a good job building up to this
Towards the end our conversation, I asked if he held any regrets. As he began to talk he became somewhat emotional.
I start to cry here
Over the years, my uncle saw the decline in business in the streets as Giuliani came into office. He began to invest all his money in little businesses, both here and in the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, he focused on real estate buying lots and building beautiful condos.
His uncle seems like a smart man. Very adaptive
As the conversation continued on, I got to hear about my uncle’s dealings with the family and how he’d make sure to give everyone the chance at setting themselves up for a brighter future. He refused to see any of his sisters having to depend on a man financially.
I see this as the author trying to make us understand that they are poor, so selling these drugs are probably necessary to stay somewhat financially stable.
him an extremely large phone book;
networking at its finest
“I sold weed and coke.
Now I think I know
“The cops and laws were not so heavy; they were only after you if you were hurting other people.” I did not intend on asking him specifically what he did, although part of me already knew that answer, but the curiosity got to me.
"where are they?"
who might have a money above everything else mentality.
This is really my dad
The following morning, there was an odd stillness in the air.
I can feel the stiffness in the air just by reading this.
That was the moment Superman was no longer super.
This sentence hit hard. to a ten year old, one's own dad is probably the coolest person in the world. This was a great way of being more descriptive to the situation.
. My father had just arrived from the grocery store down the block from our house (he spent most of his evenings there after work).
does this guy hang out in the grocery store? Kind of weird
Many people come to America with their new lives fully planned out and others have to wing it.
Just from reading this I feel like the story is about some rebellious type of person who has moved to the United States with some interesting plans.
“This is not a life you choose,” his uncle told him. “It chooses you and it doesn’t come cheap…”
I like these quotes, kind of makes it feel like we are starting the story out in the middle of a important moment.