Efrén Divided

The weekend arrives. Apá works overtime hours to earn more money, so Efrén spends both days tending to the twins. They play, color, and go to the playground. He looks forward to school Monday morning, but when Monday arrives, Efrén has such difficulty getting obstreperous Max dressed and out the door that he (Efrén) is late to school. Mr. Garrett is unsympathetic and tells Efrén he will have detention that afternoon as a consequence for his tardiness. Efrén panics inside; Apá will be at work, and Doña Chana is leaving for Guatemala. Efrén knows he cannot tell the truth, as there is too great a chance someone will tell. He skips detention.

When Efrén picks up Max and Mia after school, Ms. Solomon asks if Amá got the new job. Efrén deduces that the new company was the place where ICE arrested Amá. He fibs and says yes. He spends six dollars on tacos at Don Tapatío’s food truck, where double tortillas allow Efrén to make six tacos from three by splitting the meat. He fibs to the twins, telling them Amá will return soon.

That night, Efrén starts his homework after getting the twins into bed. He cannot focus well, noticing how small and poor their studio apartment and possessions really are and realizing it is Amá who “managed to keep this fact from really sinking in” (81). Just as Efrén finally starts his grammar homework, Apá arrives. He bears a pepperoni and pineapple pizza that he says will be Efrén’s and the twins’ dinner the next day. Apá goes back outside briefly; through the window, Efrén sees Apá sell his tools—his dearest possession—to a man who then drives off. Returning, Apá says the money will be a start in trying again to get Amá back. Apá also says he took another job scheduled for overnight hours and wants to know if Efrén can continue to manage the twins. Efrén wants to know when Apá will sleep. Apá says it is only temporary for the extra money. Apá leaves to go to the new job, and Efrén realizes Apá is a “Soperman,” a superhero just like Amá.

Mr. Garrett demands to know the next morning why Efrén skipped detention, and reprimands him impatiently in front of the class when Efrén does not respond immediately. His harshness pushes Efrén to respond disrespectfully: “Why? […] It’s not like you even care” (85). Mr. Garrett backs off but keeps Efrén after class. His tone is gentler, and he tells Efrén that he notices his lost look, his messy clothes, and his multiple infractions. Efrén sees from a photo on Mr. Garrett’s desk that he married a Latina woman. The rumor is that Mr. Garrett divorced over the summer, leading to his bad mood and low spirits.

Efrén tells him the truth about Amá’s deportation. Mr. Garrett is sympathetic and advises Efrén to let his father do the worrying about the issue. Efrén does not explain that he is taking care of his siblings. At lunch, worrying about food for the twins, Efrén takes prepackaged snacks as his tray option so that they will not spoil by the time he sees the twins. Then he steals discarded, unopened bags of celery and crackers for them, too. He hides these in his backpack just in time before David sees.

Efrén reheats the pizza on the griddle that night and serves it to the twins along with the celery and crackers. A collect call comes from Amá. Efrén lets the twins hear her by way of the speaker button. Max is happy to hear Amá, but Mia stubbornly resists, then cries, “I’m mad at Amá! […] For leaving us for so long” (95). She runs off. Amá says Mia is too young to understand. She also tells Efrén that she found a room to rent and will need money soon. Efrén promises to tell Apá.

Amá indicates she will try to get a drug store job next. Mia overhears this and demands to know why Amá needs a job in Mexico. Efrén tells them the truth, which proves to be more complicated than he planned. Mia wants to know if Amá broke a law, then thinks she might be a criminal or spy when Efrén says yes. He tries to compare the immigration situation with Dr. Suess’s The Sneetches, in which some characters have stars on their bellies and others do not; those with the stars think they are superior. Efrén says, “[P]eople in the United States have stars […] And Amá, well, she doesn’t have any” (98). Mia points out that no one cares about the stars by the end of the book, and Efrén tells her “The world hasn’t gotten that far yet” (98).

Efrén waits up for Apá. He hears a strange noise and sees a local man, Rafa, and Rafa’s crew tailgating when he looks out the window. Efrén recalls how Apá often investigates noises for the safety of his family. In Mexico, he was a lieutenant police officer who worked to catch drug traffickers and other powerful criminals in the country. In the tub, Efrén tries to search online for ICE information and reports of raids but finds nothing legitimate. He is too tired for homework. When Apá comes in, Efrén sees a bloody, bandaged injury to Apá’s hand. Apá washes it in the sink. Apá tells Efrén to take 10 dollars from his wallet for food. He tells Efrén he is proud of him, and Efrén returns the sentiment.

The next morning, Max tries to have ice cream for breakfast, and he hides under the kitchen sink when Efrén tells him no. Under the sink, he becomes wet from spilled drain cleaner, necessitating a bath. Max fights Efrén wildly, kicking him in the jaw. Out of patience, Efrén swats Max’s behind. He quickly apologizes, but the twins are silent at breakfast.

At school, Efrén’s class is eager to see why Mr. Garrett is finally decorating his room. He is tacking up yellow poster paper everywhere. He thanks Efrén privately for reminding him why he is teaching them. Mr. Garrett announces to the class an upcoming trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. He says their new unit of study will prepare them for the trip. He forewarns them that some of the content and images will be sad and graphic, but that they will also see kindness and courage. Starting a slideshow, Mr. Garrett asks Jennifer Huerta to read German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller’s poem, “First they came for the socialists…” (113). Jennifer says the poem is about individual responsibility. Mr. Garrett also shows a Gandhi quote: “We but mirror the world […]” (116). Efrén volunteers that this one is about leading by example.