Merci Suárez Changes Gears

It’s Grand’s Day, and Lolo doesn’t want to go. When Abuela tells him to put his shoes on, and that the children are waiting, Lolo scowls at her. Merci tries to appease him by telling him that she made them pretty nametags and that he can talk all about his former baseball days in Cuba and visit the baseball field. When Abuela engages him again, Lolo flies into a menacing rage, shouting, “I’M NOT GOING!” and then charges at Abuela (199). Roli jumps in the middle of his grandparents and tells Lolo to stop. He also tells Merci to get their parents. When Enrique and Ana arrive, Enrique firmly tells Lolo to calm down, multiple times. He tells Lolo that no one will force him to go. Then, he tells Ana to take Merci and Roli to school, without the grandparents. Merci tries to fight this change of plans, but Enrique is decisive and firm.

On the way to school, Merci can see that Roli is shaken. She has never seen him as upset as the confrontation made him, and never, ever seen Lolo act in that manner. She is upset and confused.