I read 17 pages.
You can do it, said Tam Lin from the darkness on the other side of the fire.
"I know I can," said Matt, smiling back. (page 380)
Ahh! Last line of the book! I like this, because even as Matt thinks about the future of Opium, he knows Tam Lin is still right there with him.
Chapter 37 Summary: Matt is recovering in the hospital of the Convent from spending the past few months as a mistreated orphan and refugee. One day, Esperanza comes and tells Matt what she needs him to do. She explains that since El Patron's death, Opium has been on lockdown. The only way to get into Opium is with El Patron's handprint and signature, and since he is now technically El Patron, he might be able to get in. She also says he could take over Opium too, since El Patron is now dead. Since she had abandoned Maria, Matt doesn't trust Esperanza very much, but agrees to go to Opium. He flies in a hovercraft to Opium and puts his hand on the scanner. It works, and he goes into Opium. He goes into the house and hears music. Following the sound to the music room, he finds Mr. Ortega, his music teacher, playing the piano. Matt tries to get his attention, but Mr. Ortega freaks out and runs away. I would be freaked out too if I thought someone was dead, and they randomly come from nowhere and try to talk to me. Matt sits down at the piano and plays for a bit, until Celia greets him. He asks her about Tam Lin, and she begins to explain what happened when he left.
Chapter 38 Summary: Matt listens to the story from Daft Donald, Celia, and Mr. Ortega's point of view. At El Patron's funeral, a box of wine was pulled out. The wine was made the year that El Patron was born, and he wanted it to be served at his 150th birthday, or his funeral. The Alacrans, Tom, El Patron's bodyguards, and the doctors drank the wine. Daft Donald didn't drink the wine, because Tam Lin warned him. A few minutes passed, and everyone who drank the wine died. Devastated, Daft Donald blew up the entrance of the dragon hoard. After the story, Matt didn't understand why Tam Lin would drink the wine since he knew about the poison in it. Apparently, Tam Lin saw this as a great opportunity to free the eejits. He also never forgave himself for blowing up the bus full of children and believed drinking the wine would make up for it. Matt goes to the oasis, and he starts thinking about how he was going to run Opium. He also wondered if eejits could be turned back into humans. When he finally arrives at the oasis, Matt digs out the letter that Tam Lin left him. Matt made a plan to reverse the eejits and let them go back to their families. He also wants to plant real crops, and he was going to get Fidelito, Chacho, Ton-Ton, and Maria to live with him. Matt looks up to find a scorpion in the red light of the sunset. He runs to it, pressing his hand against it. The false rock moved, and Matt enters to find parts of El Patron's dragon hoard. The passage led straight to El Patron's coffin. He went back to the oasis, and thought once again about running Opium, and he knew it wouldn't be too difficult as longs as his friends were there. He hears Tam Lin say You can do it. Matt agrees, saying, "I know I can."
I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. I was entertained the whole time while I was reading.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Chapters 34-36
I read 28 pages.
Jorge flinched. "Laudanum?"
"The Aztlan police have wondered for a long time how drugs were being distributed in this country. They were extremely interested in what they found at the saltworks."
"That's a vicious lie! Someone's trying to undermine the reputation of the Keepers!" cried Carlos. "Rumors like that are spread by idiots who want orphans to lie around like pampered house cats. We know they're squalid little parasites until they're reeducated into good citizens. If any laudanum was found, it was planted by the police!"
"Fine. Then you won't mind taking a drug test," said Esperanza. She stepped aside, and suddenly the doorway swarmed with men in blue uniforms. They must have been waiting just out of sight. Jorge and Carlos looked stunned as they were led away. (pae 362)
Woohoo! The Keepers are finally caught! Someone finally showed them up, and it will only be worse for them since they lied.
Chapter 34 Summary: Matt has escaped the bone pit, and is trying to get Chacho to wake up. All of a sudden, Matt hears clanking and thinks the Keepers are coming. Turns out, it is just Ton-Ton and Fidelito driving on the shrimp harvester. Ton-Ton carefully uses the shrimp harvester to get Chacho out of the pit. I thought that was pretty awesome. He says that Chacho is in a state of shock and he needed to get fluids into him. Ton-Ton gives Chacho and Matt strawberry soda, which they were very pleased with since they were dehydrated. He says they are all going to make a run for San Luis. Apparently, the boys took over control at the factory. Ton-Ton drugged the Keepers with Laudanum, and the rest of the boys barricaded the compound with bags of salt so they couldn't leave if they woke up. The boys are now taking the shrimp harvester to San Luis. Matt notices that Chacho is hurt badly, and they will have to go to a doctor as soon as they arrive to San Luis. Since the shrimp harvester is solar powered, the boys travel until dark. Matt doesn't think Chacho can make it to morning without seeing a doctor, so he and Fidelito run ahead to go find help in San Luis. Ton-Ton tells Matt and Fidelito to be extremely careful near the Colorado River because it is very bad.
Chapter 35 Summary: Fidelito and Matt are walking to San Luis in the dark. As they near the Colorado River, Matt finds the stench is almost as bad as the eejit pens. They see a tentacle coming out of the river, and they quickly cross it. Matt has an asthma attack and passes out after they cross the river. He wakes to an inhaler being held to his face by a woman. She is with her brother, Guapo. They take Matt with them, saying that they won't tell the keepers about him because they hate the Keepers too. They had also already sent an ambulance for Chacho. Matt follows the woman, Consuela, and Guapo to a door where they enter into a cemetery. He is taken aback by this because he's not used to graves being in the ground, since the Alacrans had a mausoleum. Matt and Fidelito had arrived on El Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which is a popular Mexican holiday. Conseula explains that death is a part of everyone when Matt doesn't understand why people would celebrate death. He knows Celia celebrated every holiday, but he had never heard of this one. Matt smells something, and it reminds him of Felicia. He then gets homesick at the party. Conseula and Guapo say they'll take the boys to see Chacho, which is coincidentally at the Convent of Santa Clara, where Maria lives. She gives them Halloween masks to disguise themselves from the Keepers. The masks look like skulls, and Matt is uncomfortable with wearing the masks, but Conseula says it is the only way to go unnoticed. He does not like wearing the mask at all.
Chapter 36 Summary: Guapo, Matt, and Fidelito get into a hover car to go to the Convent of Santa Clara. When they arrive, Matt and Fidelito wander around until a nurse spots them and takes them to Chacho. They discover two Keepers trying to take Chacho and Ton-Ton away when they get to the room. Carlos and Jorge say they are going to take Chacho without permission, even though the Sisters say that Chacho will die if they move him. The Sisters say the Keepers will have to go through him, and Matt steps in and says they will have to go through him too. Jorge goes for Matt, and everyone begins fighting. This part would make a hilarious movie scene. A lady comes in and demands everyone to stop fighting. Turns out, she is Dona Esperanza, which is Maria's mother! She tells Ton-Ton to explain everything. He does, starting from Fidelito almost getting beaten and telling her everything. Jorge denies everything, and she acts if she believed Jorge over Ton-Ton. I was like she better not believe him! She asks the Keepers about the laudanum, and how the police were investigation where all of the drugs in the country go. Of course the Keepers lie and say that if the police were to find any laudanum it was planted. Esperanza then says that they shouldn't mind a drug test. Out of nowhere, the Keepers are taken away by men in blue uniforms. Nice job, Esperanza! She explains that she had been trying to catch the Keepers for drugs, and without Ton-Ton she wouldn't have been able to get them. This makes Ton-Ton feel special, because she actually listened to him. Maria comes in and reunites with Matt. Woohoo for good endings to chapters!
Jorge flinched. "Laudanum?"
"The Aztlan police have wondered for a long time how drugs were being distributed in this country. They were extremely interested in what they found at the saltworks."
"That's a vicious lie! Someone's trying to undermine the reputation of the Keepers!" cried Carlos. "Rumors like that are spread by idiots who want orphans to lie around like pampered house cats. We know they're squalid little parasites until they're reeducated into good citizens. If any laudanum was found, it was planted by the police!"
"Fine. Then you won't mind taking a drug test," said Esperanza. She stepped aside, and suddenly the doorway swarmed with men in blue uniforms. They must have been waiting just out of sight. Jorge and Carlos looked stunned as they were led away. (pae 362)
Woohoo! The Keepers are finally caught! Someone finally showed them up, and it will only be worse for them since they lied.
Chapter 34 Summary: Matt has escaped the bone pit, and is trying to get Chacho to wake up. All of a sudden, Matt hears clanking and thinks the Keepers are coming. Turns out, it is just Ton-Ton and Fidelito driving on the shrimp harvester. Ton-Ton carefully uses the shrimp harvester to get Chacho out of the pit. I thought that was pretty awesome. He says that Chacho is in a state of shock and he needed to get fluids into him. Ton-Ton gives Chacho and Matt strawberry soda, which they were very pleased with since they were dehydrated. He says they are all going to make a run for San Luis. Apparently, the boys took over control at the factory. Ton-Ton drugged the Keepers with Laudanum, and the rest of the boys barricaded the compound with bags of salt so they couldn't leave if they woke up. The boys are now taking the shrimp harvester to San Luis. Matt notices that Chacho is hurt badly, and they will have to go to a doctor as soon as they arrive to San Luis. Since the shrimp harvester is solar powered, the boys travel until dark. Matt doesn't think Chacho can make it to morning without seeing a doctor, so he and Fidelito run ahead to go find help in San Luis. Ton-Ton tells Matt and Fidelito to be extremely careful near the Colorado River because it is very bad.
Chapter 35 Summary: Fidelito and Matt are walking to San Luis in the dark. As they near the Colorado River, Matt finds the stench is almost as bad as the eejit pens. They see a tentacle coming out of the river, and they quickly cross it. Matt has an asthma attack and passes out after they cross the river. He wakes to an inhaler being held to his face by a woman. She is with her brother, Guapo. They take Matt with them, saying that they won't tell the keepers about him because they hate the Keepers too. They had also already sent an ambulance for Chacho. Matt follows the woman, Consuela, and Guapo to a door where they enter into a cemetery. He is taken aback by this because he's not used to graves being in the ground, since the Alacrans had a mausoleum. Matt and Fidelito had arrived on El Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which is a popular Mexican holiday. Conseula explains that death is a part of everyone when Matt doesn't understand why people would celebrate death. He knows Celia celebrated every holiday, but he had never heard of this one. Matt smells something, and it reminds him of Felicia. He then gets homesick at the party. Conseula and Guapo say they'll take the boys to see Chacho, which is coincidentally at the Convent of Santa Clara, where Maria lives. She gives them Halloween masks to disguise themselves from the Keepers. The masks look like skulls, and Matt is uncomfortable with wearing the masks, but Conseula says it is the only way to go unnoticed. He does not like wearing the mask at all.
Chapter 36 Summary: Guapo, Matt, and Fidelito get into a hover car to go to the Convent of Santa Clara. When they arrive, Matt and Fidelito wander around until a nurse spots them and takes them to Chacho. They discover two Keepers trying to take Chacho and Ton-Ton away when they get to the room. Carlos and Jorge say they are going to take Chacho without permission, even though the Sisters say that Chacho will die if they move him. The Sisters say the Keepers will have to go through him, and Matt steps in and says they will have to go through him too. Jorge goes for Matt, and everyone begins fighting. This part would make a hilarious movie scene. A lady comes in and demands everyone to stop fighting. Turns out, she is Dona Esperanza, which is Maria's mother! She tells Ton-Ton to explain everything. He does, starting from Fidelito almost getting beaten and telling her everything. Jorge denies everything, and she acts if she believed Jorge over Ton-Ton. I was like she better not believe him! She asks the Keepers about the laudanum, and how the police were investigation where all of the drugs in the country go. Of course the Keepers lie and say that if the police were to find any laudanum it was planted. Esperanza then says that they shouldn't mind a drug test. Out of nowhere, the Keepers are taken away by men in blue uniforms. Nice job, Esperanza! She explains that she had been trying to catch the Keepers for drugs, and without Ton-Ton she wouldn't have been able to get them. This makes Ton-Ton feel special, because she actually listened to him. Maria comes in and reunites with Matt. Woohoo for good endings to chapters!
Chapters 31-33
I read 27 pages.
"Doesn't it bother you that the Keepers have these things and we don't?" said Matt.
Both Ton-Ton and Luna drew themselves up like offended rattlesnakes. "They earned it!" Luna said. "They put in their time; and when we put in our time, we'll have those things too!" (page 308)
It seems like the Keepers have somehow brainwashed the workers to make them think they are great, even though the Keepers treat them terribly. They probably lectured or beat it into everyone. I bet the workers don't know any better, so eventually they begin to believe that the Keepers are good people.
Chapter 31 Summary: Matt wakes up in the infirmary, where he and Ton-Ton are recovering from the previous night. He learns from Luna, Ton-Ton's friend and Keeper-in-training, that every boy trains to be a Keeper. This confuses Matt, because there are about 210 boys and only 20 Keepers. After talking to Ton-Ton for a while, Matt realizes that Ton-Ton isn't dumb, he's just a slow thinker and speaker. He also learns from Ton-Ton that Keepers have a luxurious life, and they have all kinds of entertainment and great foods. Ton-Ton says that the Keepers do laudanum every night, and Matt thinks this will help his escape plan. Turns out, Ton-Ton is from San Luis, and Matt wants Ton-Ton to go with him when Matt escapes, along with Chacho and Fidelito. The next day, Matt tells the boys that he wants to escape. Then, Ton-Ton tells the story of how Jorge saved him. Both of his parents disappeared over the border and Ton-Ton tried to run, too, but was nearly killed by the Farm Patrol. Jorge rescued him. He's got a grandmother in San Luis, but Jorge convinced him to stay at the orphanage to become a Keeper. Ton-Ton feels as if he owes his life to Jorge now. Then the boys go back to the factory, and Matt mentions Celia. Chacho asks who Celia is, and Matt say that was his mom. After that, Matt broke down and cried because he realized that Celia was one of the few people who ever loved him and cared about him. Chacho understands, and leaves Matt alone to get himself together.
Chapter 32 Summary: Jorge criticizes Matt yet again that night, but he also turns on Fidelito. Matt tries to step in and defend Fidelito, but Jorge won't let up and goes to beat Fidelito. Matt throws himself on Jorge and Chacho joins in. Soon all the boys are surrounding them and shouting. After a few minutes, Matt stops himself and then gets Chacho off of Jorge. Then Jorge goes outside and comes back with all twenty Keepers. Uh-oh. This can't be good. The other boys shout and exclaim that Jorge nearly killed Fidelito, which makes Carlos pause, but Jorge says they're lying. The Keepers try to leave, but Flaco gets everyone to surround the doors and trap them inside. Since there are two hundred boys and only 20 of them, the Keepers become nervous. They are greatly out-numbered. Jorge then tells everyone how Luna saw Matt's "Property of the Alacran Estate" tattoo on his foot when he was in the infirmary. Carlos says that's the name of the vampire from Dreamland. Then Jorge said that anyone who was the property of Alacran estate was either a worker or a zombie.
Ton-Ton says that even though he was trapped in Dreamland, he's not a bad person. He also says their parents went to Dreamland and were turned to zombies, but they still weren't bad. The majority of the kids are in denial about their parents, although they all know that it's true. Jorge tells Ton-Ton to shut up. The Keepers lock Matt and Chacho in a dark closet, with tape over their mouths.
Chapter 33 Summary: At dawn, Keepers come to get Matt and Chacho out of the closet. The boys are taken out to the pit of bones they had seen while working a few days earlier, which is known as the boneyard. Their feet and hands are bound together, and the Keepers throw them into the pit. The boys try to find a way out. Chacho is scared of the bats, and Matt has to calm him down so they don't get pushed down into the bones further. Using sharp bones, the boys get the tape off of their hands. Chacho asks Matt about the zombies, and Matt describes them. A storm approaches over the bone pit, but it only rains for a short length of time. Matt goes through the bones, and he eventually reaches dirt. He climbs his way out and calls out for Chacho. Not receiving a response, Matt begin to worry. He hears Chacho's snores moments later, and sees that he is okay but exhausted.
"Doesn't it bother you that the Keepers have these things and we don't?" said Matt.
Both Ton-Ton and Luna drew themselves up like offended rattlesnakes. "They earned it!" Luna said. "They put in their time; and when we put in our time, we'll have those things too!" (page 308)
It seems like the Keepers have somehow brainwashed the workers to make them think they are great, even though the Keepers treat them terribly. They probably lectured or beat it into everyone. I bet the workers don't know any better, so eventually they begin to believe that the Keepers are good people.
Chapter 31 Summary: Matt wakes up in the infirmary, where he and Ton-Ton are recovering from the previous night. He learns from Luna, Ton-Ton's friend and Keeper-in-training, that every boy trains to be a Keeper. This confuses Matt, because there are about 210 boys and only 20 Keepers. After talking to Ton-Ton for a while, Matt realizes that Ton-Ton isn't dumb, he's just a slow thinker and speaker. He also learns from Ton-Ton that Keepers have a luxurious life, and they have all kinds of entertainment and great foods. Ton-Ton says that the Keepers do laudanum every night, and Matt thinks this will help his escape plan. Turns out, Ton-Ton is from San Luis, and Matt wants Ton-Ton to go with him when Matt escapes, along with Chacho and Fidelito. The next day, Matt tells the boys that he wants to escape. Then, Ton-Ton tells the story of how Jorge saved him. Both of his parents disappeared over the border and Ton-Ton tried to run, too, but was nearly killed by the Farm Patrol. Jorge rescued him. He's got a grandmother in San Luis, but Jorge convinced him to stay at the orphanage to become a Keeper. Ton-Ton feels as if he owes his life to Jorge now. Then the boys go back to the factory, and Matt mentions Celia. Chacho asks who Celia is, and Matt say that was his mom. After that, Matt broke down and cried because he realized that Celia was one of the few people who ever loved him and cared about him. Chacho understands, and leaves Matt alone to get himself together.
Chapter 32 Summary: Jorge criticizes Matt yet again that night, but he also turns on Fidelito. Matt tries to step in and defend Fidelito, but Jorge won't let up and goes to beat Fidelito. Matt throws himself on Jorge and Chacho joins in. Soon all the boys are surrounding them and shouting. After a few minutes, Matt stops himself and then gets Chacho off of Jorge. Then Jorge goes outside and comes back with all twenty Keepers. Uh-oh. This can't be good. The other boys shout and exclaim that Jorge nearly killed Fidelito, which makes Carlos pause, but Jorge says they're lying. The Keepers try to leave, but Flaco gets everyone to surround the doors and trap them inside. Since there are two hundred boys and only 20 of them, the Keepers become nervous. They are greatly out-numbered. Jorge then tells everyone how Luna saw Matt's "Property of the Alacran Estate" tattoo on his foot when he was in the infirmary. Carlos says that's the name of the vampire from Dreamland. Then Jorge said that anyone who was the property of Alacran estate was either a worker or a zombie.
Ton-Ton says that even though he was trapped in Dreamland, he's not a bad person. He also says their parents went to Dreamland and were turned to zombies, but they still weren't bad. The majority of the kids are in denial about their parents, although they all know that it's true. Jorge tells Ton-Ton to shut up. The Keepers lock Matt and Chacho in a dark closet, with tape over their mouths.
Chapter 33 Summary: At dawn, Keepers come to get Matt and Chacho out of the closet. The boys are taken out to the pit of bones they had seen while working a few days earlier, which is known as the boneyard. Their feet and hands are bound together, and the Keepers throw them into the pit. The boys try to find a way out. Chacho is scared of the bats, and Matt has to calm him down so they don't get pushed down into the bones further. Using sharp bones, the boys get the tape off of their hands. Chacho asks Matt about the zombies, and Matt describes them. A storm approaches over the bone pit, but it only rains for a short length of time. Matt goes through the bones, and he eventually reaches dirt. He climbs his way out and calls out for Chacho. Not receiving a response, Matt begin to worry. He hears Chacho's snores moments later, and sees that he is okay but exhausted.
Chapters 29-30
I read 17 pages.
"Some boys," Jorge said in a thin, almost wheedling voice that sent chills down Matt's back, "some boys have to learn the hard way. They have to be broken and mended and broken again until they learn to do what they're told. It may be simple, like sweeping a floor, but they do it eagerly to keep from being broken again. And they do it forever, for as long as they live."
"In other words, you want to turn me into a zombie," said Matt.
"No!" several voices cried out.
"How dare you accuse me of that!" Jorge reached for the cane. (page 302)
I love how Matt tells him straight up what he thinks, and even though it's partly true, Jorge acts like Matt said something wrong. Since the Keepers from the orphanage told them he was an aristocrat, the Keepers from the plankton factory didn't like met before they even met him. This just adds to their dislike of him, even though Matt is just pointing out what they're basically doing.
Chapter 29 Summary: Matt wants to know why everyone is calling him the aristocrat, and Chacho tells him it's because of the way he speaks and how he acts. Matt has a bigger vocabulary, thinks more, and has better manners than the other boys. Before bed, Jorge talks to the kids about how if a door is always being opened and closed, it won't stick because the hinges won't rust. He describes the workers as the doors, meaning if they work hard and don't goof around, they won't get "rusty" like the door hinges. Jorge asks Matt how to keep your mind clean, and Matt says that you need to use your brain all the time to keep your mind clean. He didn't like Matt's answer, so Jorge says that self-criticism is how to keep your brain clean. A kid named Ton-Ton answers the question correctly, by telling everyone something wrong he did then saying how he should be punished for it. The other children start doing this too, which I thought was really crazy and strange. When it was Matt's turn to confess something, he says that he has done nothing wrong. This angers Jorge, and he starts saying everything that Matt has done wrong. Fidelito tries to stick up for Matt, but Jorge insults him too. The other boys, except for Chacho and Fidelito, start insulting Matt and saying what he has done wrong. Matt had thought the boys had liked him and were his friends, but that obviously wasn't true. He begins to think about Maria, Tam Lin, and Celia. His thoughts were about how they love him and saw him as a real boy. Matt realizes he has Chacho and Fidelito, and that is all he needs right now.
Chapter 30 Summary: One day, Matt and Chacho go investigate something in the distance and discover a huge pit filled with giant bones. Chacho also sees a human skull in the pit. The boys decide to leave before one of them falls in, and they didn't want to leave Fidelito alone too long. When they get back to Fidelito, who didn't go because of the long walk, they explain the bones to Fidelito. He tells Matt and Chacho that they are whale bones. Matt also begins to get used to the "self-criticism" insults he receives every night from the other boys. Although one night, Jorge turns against Ton-Ton when Matt says he has done nothing wrong. Jorge accuses Ton-Ton of stealing from the Keepers and punishes him. He tells Ton-Ton to "assume the position" and selects a cane to beat him with. After waiting a few seconds, Jorge runs after him, and beats Ton-Ton several times. Jorge says that some kids must be repeatedly taught to be good, but sometimes they have to be taught the "hard" way. Matt knows Jorge is doing this to intimidate him. After all, the beating is so bad that Ton-Ton has to be taken to the infirmary when Jorge is done. Matt still refuses to confess to doing something wrong, so Jorge threatens to beat him. Of course, Matt talks back and accuses Jorge of turning the kids into zombies, causing Jorge to become even more furious. Fidelito stands up for Matt and says that he will confess for him. Knowing that Fidelito wouldn't survive a beating, Matt confesses and gets into the same position Ton-Ton was forced to get into. After beating Matt really badly, Jorge exits. All of the boys cheer Matt on for saying what he did to Jorge. Matt is taken to the infirmary, where Ton-Ton is, and falls asleep after he was given laudanum.
"Some boys," Jorge said in a thin, almost wheedling voice that sent chills down Matt's back, "some boys have to learn the hard way. They have to be broken and mended and broken again until they learn to do what they're told. It may be simple, like sweeping a floor, but they do it eagerly to keep from being broken again. And they do it forever, for as long as they live."
"In other words, you want to turn me into a zombie," said Matt.
"No!" several voices cried out.
"How dare you accuse me of that!" Jorge reached for the cane. (page 302)
I love how Matt tells him straight up what he thinks, and even though it's partly true, Jorge acts like Matt said something wrong. Since the Keepers from the orphanage told them he was an aristocrat, the Keepers from the plankton factory didn't like met before they even met him. This just adds to their dislike of him, even though Matt is just pointing out what they're basically doing.
Chapter 29 Summary: Matt wants to know why everyone is calling him the aristocrat, and Chacho tells him it's because of the way he speaks and how he acts. Matt has a bigger vocabulary, thinks more, and has better manners than the other boys. Before bed, Jorge talks to the kids about how if a door is always being opened and closed, it won't stick because the hinges won't rust. He describes the workers as the doors, meaning if they work hard and don't goof around, they won't get "rusty" like the door hinges. Jorge asks Matt how to keep your mind clean, and Matt says that you need to use your brain all the time to keep your mind clean. He didn't like Matt's answer, so Jorge says that self-criticism is how to keep your brain clean. A kid named Ton-Ton answers the question correctly, by telling everyone something wrong he did then saying how he should be punished for it. The other children start doing this too, which I thought was really crazy and strange. When it was Matt's turn to confess something, he says that he has done nothing wrong. This angers Jorge, and he starts saying everything that Matt has done wrong. Fidelito tries to stick up for Matt, but Jorge insults him too. The other boys, except for Chacho and Fidelito, start insulting Matt and saying what he has done wrong. Matt had thought the boys had liked him and were his friends, but that obviously wasn't true. He begins to think about Maria, Tam Lin, and Celia. His thoughts were about how they love him and saw him as a real boy. Matt realizes he has Chacho and Fidelito, and that is all he needs right now.
Chapter 30 Summary: One day, Matt and Chacho go investigate something in the distance and discover a huge pit filled with giant bones. Chacho also sees a human skull in the pit. The boys decide to leave before one of them falls in, and they didn't want to leave Fidelito alone too long. When they get back to Fidelito, who didn't go because of the long walk, they explain the bones to Fidelito. He tells Matt and Chacho that they are whale bones. Matt also begins to get used to the "self-criticism" insults he receives every night from the other boys. Although one night, Jorge turns against Ton-Ton when Matt says he has done nothing wrong. Jorge accuses Ton-Ton of stealing from the Keepers and punishes him. He tells Ton-Ton to "assume the position" and selects a cane to beat him with. After waiting a few seconds, Jorge runs after him, and beats Ton-Ton several times. Jorge says that some kids must be repeatedly taught to be good, but sometimes they have to be taught the "hard" way. Matt knows Jorge is doing this to intimidate him. After all, the beating is so bad that Ton-Ton has to be taken to the infirmary when Jorge is done. Matt still refuses to confess to doing something wrong, so Jorge threatens to beat him. Of course, Matt talks back and accuses Jorge of turning the kids into zombies, causing Jorge to become even more furious. Fidelito stands up for Matt and says that he will confess for him. Knowing that Fidelito wouldn't survive a beating, Matt confesses and gets into the same position Ton-Ton was forced to get into. After beating Matt really badly, Jorge exits. All of the boys cheer Matt on for saying what he did to Jorge. Matt is taken to the infirmary, where Ton-Ton is, and falls asleep after he was given laudanum.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Chapters 26-28
I read 27 pages.
"Why don't you put a computer chip in the horse's brain? Then it wouldn't matter how many legs it had." A gasp went around the room.
"Are you saying---?" the Keeper stopped, as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you suggesting we turn the horse into a zombie?" (page 274)
When Matt suggests putting a computer chip into the five-legged horse instead of sawing off the extra leg, everyone seemed shocked that he would even think of something like that. I wonder how they would react to spending a day at the Alacran Estate with Safe Horses and eejits everywhere.
Chapter 26 Summary: The border guards are impressed with Matt's narrow escape from the Farm Patrol, and they ask him his name. He hesitated for a moment before telling them his name is Matt Ortega. The guards take Matt to a building to bathe, change clothes, and eat. They ask him what happened, and he recites the story Tam Lin came up with. He tells them he wants to go to San Luis, which is where Maria is. The guards ask Matt what kind of skills he has, and he tells them he can play the piano. They call him an aristocrat, which is what he is called quite a bit by the Keepers. A guard named Raul decides to send him to a plankton factory to work in San Luis. Matt thinks that sounds fine, he decides he'll just escape and find Maria when he gets there. He sees the other guards playing a holo-game, which he has never seen before since El Patron kept Opium behind present times. The game turns out to be called cannibals and missionaries, which is really strange if you ask me. Matt is then taken to a place with other children, which is the orphanage for children who lost their parents while trying to go over the border. He meets Fidelito and Chacho, and Chacho explains how everyone works and if someone doesn't meet the quota, they get less food or no meal at all. Already being smaller than most of the boys, this explains why Fidelito is so thin. Actually, Fidelito and Chacho are also going to San Luis with Matt the next day. Matt learns the guards who look after the orphans are called Keepers, and the orphans dislike the Keepers very much.
Chapter 27 Summary: Matt learns things from the kids who are working with him. The orphans are called the Lost Boys and Lost Girls, and they live in different buildings. Everyone refers to Opium as "Dreamland." The kids say how their parents are just trying to get enough money and settle in, then they are coming back for their children. It's heartbreaking to know how hopeful they are about their parents coming back for them, but Matt knows what happened to all of them. They didn't successfully cross the border, but they were turned into eejits. Matt helps Fidelito make more pills, so Fidelito can eat. At lunch, everyone had to recite the Five Principles of Good Citizenship and the Four Attitudes Leading to Right Mindfulness. Thanks to Matt's help, Fidelito receives a full bowl a beans for lunch. After lunch, Matt goes to Chacho's table, and Chacho says he should get used to making one product, because after a while you aren't allowed to switch around. We learn Chacho is secretly making a guitar, because his dad used to make them. He insists his dad is working in the United States and is going to send for him soon, although Matt knows his dad was probably turned into an eejit. Their bedtime story is about individualism, and why it is like a five-legged horse. According to Raul, individualism will cause people to just go in circles, so people should just be the same. Matt points out that not letting people be individuals is about the same as putting a computer chip into their brain, and everyone is shocked at this statement. Raul calls Matt an aristocrat. When everyone goes to bed, Matt begins to freak out, because he can't let anyone find out he is El Patron's clone since everyone at the orphanage despises "Dreamland."
Chapter 28 Summary: Chacho, Fidelito, and Matt are being taken to the plankton factory. Fidelito vomits on the way to San Luis, creating a terrible smell in the hovercraft. When they finally land, the boys exit the hovercraft only to be exposed to heat and an even worse stench of rotting fish. They fall to the ground and throw up at this. The boys go into the plankton factory, and the smell isn't as bad as it was outside. When they come across Keepers and Matt says his name, one calls him "the aristocrat," which means Raul must've already told them about Matt. They are forced to clean the vomit out of the hovercraft, but it's mainly Matt and Chacho cleaning since Fidelito still felt sick. After they finish, they talk to the head Keeper, Carlos. He rambles on about how great plankton is. It grows in the sea, then the factory manufactures it to be turned into food for humans. Matts asks where San Luis is, but Carlos tells him that it's on a need-to-know basis. The plankton factory is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by salt hills from the leftover plankton process. They eat plankton at lunch, and Matt learns that they are where the ocean used to be, and pollution from the Colorado River killed all of the whales. He also learns that the Gulf of California is where Opium gets its water from. While working, Matt brings up swimming, and Chacho claims that is something aristocrats do. Fidelito says he knows how to swim, because his grandma lived on the seashore. Then he explains how he became a refugee when a hurricane came along and destroyed their home. Fidelito's grandma got sick and the Keepers had to force feed her. Matt didn't understand why they did this, and Chacho explained that it was every citizens' job to survive and contribute to the general good, and that if the Keepers just let any ill person or orphan go, they wouldn't have a job. Carlos comes and scolds the boys for not working. Matt talks back to Carlos, which makes the three boys lose their dinner privileges for that night. He apologizes for making Chacho and Fidelito lose dinner, but they don't mind and Fidelito says he's proud to be friends with them. Aw, that was nice of him.
"Why don't you put a computer chip in the horse's brain? Then it wouldn't matter how many legs it had." A gasp went around the room.
"Are you saying---?" the Keeper stopped, as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you suggesting we turn the horse into a zombie?" (page 274)
When Matt suggests putting a computer chip into the five-legged horse instead of sawing off the extra leg, everyone seemed shocked that he would even think of something like that. I wonder how they would react to spending a day at the Alacran Estate with Safe Horses and eejits everywhere.
Chapter 26 Summary: The border guards are impressed with Matt's narrow escape from the Farm Patrol, and they ask him his name. He hesitated for a moment before telling them his name is Matt Ortega. The guards take Matt to a building to bathe, change clothes, and eat. They ask him what happened, and he recites the story Tam Lin came up with. He tells them he wants to go to San Luis, which is where Maria is. The guards ask Matt what kind of skills he has, and he tells them he can play the piano. They call him an aristocrat, which is what he is called quite a bit by the Keepers. A guard named Raul decides to send him to a plankton factory to work in San Luis. Matt thinks that sounds fine, he decides he'll just escape and find Maria when he gets there. He sees the other guards playing a holo-game, which he has never seen before since El Patron kept Opium behind present times. The game turns out to be called cannibals and missionaries, which is really strange if you ask me. Matt is then taken to a place with other children, which is the orphanage for children who lost their parents while trying to go over the border. He meets Fidelito and Chacho, and Chacho explains how everyone works and if someone doesn't meet the quota, they get less food or no meal at all. Already being smaller than most of the boys, this explains why Fidelito is so thin. Actually, Fidelito and Chacho are also going to San Luis with Matt the next day. Matt learns the guards who look after the orphans are called Keepers, and the orphans dislike the Keepers very much.
Chapter 27 Summary: Matt learns things from the kids who are working with him. The orphans are called the Lost Boys and Lost Girls, and they live in different buildings. Everyone refers to Opium as "Dreamland." The kids say how their parents are just trying to get enough money and settle in, then they are coming back for their children. It's heartbreaking to know how hopeful they are about their parents coming back for them, but Matt knows what happened to all of them. They didn't successfully cross the border, but they were turned into eejits. Matt helps Fidelito make more pills, so Fidelito can eat. At lunch, everyone had to recite the Five Principles of Good Citizenship and the Four Attitudes Leading to Right Mindfulness. Thanks to Matt's help, Fidelito receives a full bowl a beans for lunch. After lunch, Matt goes to Chacho's table, and Chacho says he should get used to making one product, because after a while you aren't allowed to switch around. We learn Chacho is secretly making a guitar, because his dad used to make them. He insists his dad is working in the United States and is going to send for him soon, although Matt knows his dad was probably turned into an eejit. Their bedtime story is about individualism, and why it is like a five-legged horse. According to Raul, individualism will cause people to just go in circles, so people should just be the same. Matt points out that not letting people be individuals is about the same as putting a computer chip into their brain, and everyone is shocked at this statement. Raul calls Matt an aristocrat. When everyone goes to bed, Matt begins to freak out, because he can't let anyone find out he is El Patron's clone since everyone at the orphanage despises "Dreamland."
Chapter 28 Summary: Chacho, Fidelito, and Matt are being taken to the plankton factory. Fidelito vomits on the way to San Luis, creating a terrible smell in the hovercraft. When they finally land, the boys exit the hovercraft only to be exposed to heat and an even worse stench of rotting fish. They fall to the ground and throw up at this. The boys go into the plankton factory, and the smell isn't as bad as it was outside. When they come across Keepers and Matt says his name, one calls him "the aristocrat," which means Raul must've already told them about Matt. They are forced to clean the vomit out of the hovercraft, but it's mainly Matt and Chacho cleaning since Fidelito still felt sick. After they finish, they talk to the head Keeper, Carlos. He rambles on about how great plankton is. It grows in the sea, then the factory manufactures it to be turned into food for humans. Matts asks where San Luis is, but Carlos tells him that it's on a need-to-know basis. The plankton factory is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by salt hills from the leftover plankton process. They eat plankton at lunch, and Matt learns that they are where the ocean used to be, and pollution from the Colorado River killed all of the whales. He also learns that the Gulf of California is where Opium gets its water from. While working, Matt brings up swimming, and Chacho claims that is something aristocrats do. Fidelito says he knows how to swim, because his grandma lived on the seashore. Then he explains how he became a refugee when a hurricane came along and destroyed their home. Fidelito's grandma got sick and the Keepers had to force feed her. Matt didn't understand why they did this, and Chacho explained that it was every citizens' job to survive and contribute to the general good, and that if the Keepers just let any ill person or orphan go, they wouldn't have a job. Carlos comes and scolds the boys for not working. Matt talks back to Carlos, which makes the three boys lose their dinner privileges for that night. He apologizes for making Chacho and Fidelito lose dinner, but they don't mind and Fidelito says he's proud to be friends with them. Aw, that was nice of him.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Chapters 23-25
I read 27 pages.
"Where are you taking it?" a man called.
"Thought I'd dump in next to the eejit pens," Tam Lin replied. The man's laughter was lost in the drum of horse's hooves striking the earth. (page 240)
For a minute there, I actually thought Tam Lin was actually going to drop him in the eejit pens! But then I thought, Tam Lin wouldn't really do that to Matt. On the next page, we actually find out that Tam Lin was just acting so the other man wouldn't be suspicious.
Chapter 23 Summary: Matt is terrified and knows he's about to die. Bodyguards come in and take him to El Patron's bedside, where Celia waits with more guards. While talking to Matt, El Patron explains how he's a good person for not destroying Matt's brain when he was first created. Of course we all think he's a great person for doing what he has done! Sarcasm is 100% intended. El Patron begins to tell Matt the story of Cinco de Mayo from his childhood, again. Since none of his siblings made it to adulthood, El Patron insists he is owed the lives of all of them. He feels as if he should be given multiple "lifetimes," each one in exchange for a dead siblings. This explanation starts an argument between Celia and El Patron. Celia says El Viejo was the only good man in the family, because he accepted death gracefully and with dignity. El Patron claims Matt owes him for the wonderful life he gave Matt. Celia quickly retorts saying that Matt owes him nothing at all. She then says that El Patron can't use him for transplants anyways. The doctor looks up from the monitor he was watching when he heard this, and the guards stirred around. Then she lets out the shocking secret: she has been poisoning Matt since El Patron's first heart attack. Of course not enough to kill Matt, but enough to make is heart unsuitable for a transplant. That explains the stomach bug he had. Celia made a very clever move, if you ask me. El Patron is absolutely flabbergasted, and his heart begins to fail from the shock. He is moved to the operating room, while Matt is left alone in the room. Mr. Alacran and Tam Lin come back in and inform Matt that El Patron has died. Then Mr. Alacran says they no longer have a use for Matt and tells Tam Lin to kill him. Tam Lin agrees and hauls Matt of to kill him. I honestly thought Tam Lin had turned against Matt for a moment. Matt asks about Celia, and Tam Lin says she's been turned into an eejit. Tam Lin requests Daft Donald's help with killing Matt, and Mr. Alacran gives him approval to go ahead. So intense!
Chapter 24 Summary: Tam Lin and Daft Donald tie Matt up with duct tape and throw him on a horse. Tam Lin says that he is going to dump Matt into the eejit pens. Matt thinks that Tam Lin has turned on him and is actually going to throw him in the eejit pens. Once they get far enough away, Tam Lin frees Matt from the duct tape and tells him the plan. We can all let out the breath of relief we were holding now! They go to the oasis, and Tam Lin explains that he put Celia in the stables with a mark on her head to act like an eejit. Matt wants Tam Lin to go to Aztlan with him, but Tam Lin says that he has to stay in Opium and accept the consequences for the bad things he's done. Tam Lin tells Matt to find the Convent of Santa Clara, which is where Maria goes to school. He is also supposed to try to find Esperanza, Maria's mother. Since he has to be back for the wake, Tam Lin starts to leave, but not before promising he will take care of Celia. I think things are about to get even more interesting!
Chapter 25 Summary: Matt spends an uneasy night outside, and he sets of on his journey to Aztlan. As Matt heads into the mountains, he finds that Tam Lin has even thought to leave him encouraging notes on his map. How thoughtful! The farther away from Opium Matt goes, the more El Patron's death seems to hit him. After some hardcore rock climbing, Matt moves closer to the border. Matt follows the trail for a while, and he finally sees Aztlan. He automatically notices how loud it is. When he gets to the border, Matt immediately recognizes Farm Patrol on guard. He decides to hide and wait for a little while. The Farm Patrol catches a runaway, and Matt decides to run for it while they are busy with the runaway. One of the men on a horse grabs Matt's backpack, but he slides out of it and ends up falling into an oil pit. Realizing he has lost everything that Tam Lin has given him, Matt knows he will have no trouble convincing people he is a refugee. But on the bright side, welcome to Aztlan everyone!
"Where are you taking it?" a man called.
"Thought I'd dump in next to the eejit pens," Tam Lin replied. The man's laughter was lost in the drum of horse's hooves striking the earth. (page 240)
For a minute there, I actually thought Tam Lin was actually going to drop him in the eejit pens! But then I thought, Tam Lin wouldn't really do that to Matt. On the next page, we actually find out that Tam Lin was just acting so the other man wouldn't be suspicious.
Chapter 23 Summary: Matt is terrified and knows he's about to die. Bodyguards come in and take him to El Patron's bedside, where Celia waits with more guards. While talking to Matt, El Patron explains how he's a good person for not destroying Matt's brain when he was first created. Of course we all think he's a great person for doing what he has done! Sarcasm is 100% intended. El Patron begins to tell Matt the story of Cinco de Mayo from his childhood, again. Since none of his siblings made it to adulthood, El Patron insists he is owed the lives of all of them. He feels as if he should be given multiple "lifetimes," each one in exchange for a dead siblings. This explanation starts an argument between Celia and El Patron. Celia says El Viejo was the only good man in the family, because he accepted death gracefully and with dignity. El Patron claims Matt owes him for the wonderful life he gave Matt. Celia quickly retorts saying that Matt owes him nothing at all. She then says that El Patron can't use him for transplants anyways. The doctor looks up from the monitor he was watching when he heard this, and the guards stirred around. Then she lets out the shocking secret: she has been poisoning Matt since El Patron's first heart attack. Of course not enough to kill Matt, but enough to make is heart unsuitable for a transplant. That explains the stomach bug he had. Celia made a very clever move, if you ask me. El Patron is absolutely flabbergasted, and his heart begins to fail from the shock. He is moved to the operating room, while Matt is left alone in the room. Mr. Alacran and Tam Lin come back in and inform Matt that El Patron has died. Then Mr. Alacran says they no longer have a use for Matt and tells Tam Lin to kill him. Tam Lin agrees and hauls Matt of to kill him. I honestly thought Tam Lin had turned against Matt for a moment. Matt asks about Celia, and Tam Lin says she's been turned into an eejit. Tam Lin requests Daft Donald's help with killing Matt, and Mr. Alacran gives him approval to go ahead. So intense!
Chapter 24 Summary: Tam Lin and Daft Donald tie Matt up with duct tape and throw him on a horse. Tam Lin says that he is going to dump Matt into the eejit pens. Matt thinks that Tam Lin has turned on him and is actually going to throw him in the eejit pens. Once they get far enough away, Tam Lin frees Matt from the duct tape and tells him the plan. We can all let out the breath of relief we were holding now! They go to the oasis, and Tam Lin explains that he put Celia in the stables with a mark on her head to act like an eejit. Matt wants Tam Lin to go to Aztlan with him, but Tam Lin says that he has to stay in Opium and accept the consequences for the bad things he's done. Tam Lin tells Matt to find the Convent of Santa Clara, which is where Maria goes to school. He is also supposed to try to find Esperanza, Maria's mother. Since he has to be back for the wake, Tam Lin starts to leave, but not before promising he will take care of Celia. I think things are about to get even more interesting!
Chapter 25 Summary: Matt spends an uneasy night outside, and he sets of on his journey to Aztlan. As Matt heads into the mountains, he finds that Tam Lin has even thought to leave him encouraging notes on his map. How thoughtful! The farther away from Opium Matt goes, the more El Patron's death seems to hit him. After some hardcore rock climbing, Matt moves closer to the border. Matt follows the trail for a while, and he finally sees Aztlan. He automatically notices how loud it is. When he gets to the border, Matt immediately recognizes Farm Patrol on guard. He decides to hide and wait for a little while. The Farm Patrol catches a runaway, and Matt decides to run for it while they are busy with the runaway. One of the men on a horse grabs Matt's backpack, but he slides out of it and ends up falling into an oil pit. Realizing he has lost everything that Tam Lin has given him, Matt knows he will have no trouble convincing people he is a refugee. But on the bright side, welcome to Aztlan everyone!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Chapters 21-22
I read 24 pages.
"I never said he was stupid. Only corrupt."
"He's considered good enough to marry me!" Maria said.
"What?" Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing. (Pages 208-209)
Matt was incapable of speech. How could anyone want Maria to marry Tom? He was such a--such a rotten little pustule! It was unthinkable. (Page 209, 3rd paragraph)
During Matt and Maria's conversation here, you can tell Matt is jealous at the thought of Tom and Maria ever getting married, and he is definitely shocked that anyone would want them to get married.
Chapter 21 Summary: It is time to being preparation for Emilia and Steven's wedding, and Matt watches the guests as they come in. Matt saw Maria get off the hovercraft, but noticed she slipped away to the music room instead. He followed her to the music room, where she was waiting for him in the secret passage. They talk for a bit, and Matt explains to Maria how he is different from other clones. Maria brings up how Tom is "considered good enough to marry" her, and Matt is definitely unhappy with that possibility. I don't think Tom and Maria will marry, unless they are absolutely forced to. Changing the subject, Matt shows Maria the photo of Epseranza Mendoza from The History of Opium. Matt suggests that Maria should try to contact her mother, because she could keep Maria and Tom from having to get married. It is so obvious Matt is jealous and doesn't want Tom to have Maria. Knowing Emilia will be looking for her, Maria sneaks back to where everyone else is. It is time for the wedding, and Matt watches from the peephole in the secret passage with a pocket telescope. During the ceremony, El Patron passes out and falls out of his chair. We later find out that he had a heart attack. Everyone rushes out, leaving Steven and Emilia alone at the altar. It seems like something always goes wrong during events like this at the Alacran Estate.
Chapter 22 Summary: Matt begins to panic, because he thinks El Patron is going to kill him for organs, but he is not completely positive. Maria goes the secret passage and tells Matt to stay put until she can come back to get him. She says they can take her dad's hovercraft and pretend Matt is her new eejit servant. Matt waits for Maria to come back, becoming thirstier by the minute. Maria finally comes back with water, and news that El Patron is doing better. He changes into an eejit uniform Maria got from Tam Lin, and they make their way out to the hovercraft. Trying to get out of the passage, they are unable to find the peephole in the wall. Maria finds a scorpion on the wall and explains how El Patron used to use the passage to spy on people. It only works for El Patron, so enemies could not sneak in. The scorpion only shows up in red light, and El Patron presses his hand against the scorpion to open the wall. By doing this, he can enter and exit the house without being seen by the security cameras. If anyone else presses the scorpion, a jolt of electricity goes through their arm, and the whole passage fills up with a poisonous gas. Since Matt is El Patron's clone, Maria suggests it could work, since they have the same DNA. It is basically a now or never situation, so Matt decides to press the scorpion, but not before Maria and Matt declare their love for each other. How sweet! He presses the scorpion, and it opens. Whooo! They eventually ended up on the hovercraft landing field, where they walked to the right hovercraft. When they board the hovercraft, Emilia and Steven show up. Maria tells Emilia that their mother is alive, but Emilia says she has known that for years. If I were Maria, I would be very upset with Emilia. Steven tells Matt he has to go to the hospital, and he tells the bodyguards to take Matt away. Matt feels betrayed, because he always thought Steven and Emilia were somewhat friends. Maria screams for someone to help him, but no one listened to her.
"I never said he was stupid. Only corrupt."
"He's considered good enough to marry me!" Maria said.
"What?" Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing. (Pages 208-209)
Matt was incapable of speech. How could anyone want Maria to marry Tom? He was such a--such a rotten little pustule! It was unthinkable. (Page 209, 3rd paragraph)
During Matt and Maria's conversation here, you can tell Matt is jealous at the thought of Tom and Maria ever getting married, and he is definitely shocked that anyone would want them to get married.
Chapter 21 Summary: It is time to being preparation for Emilia and Steven's wedding, and Matt watches the guests as they come in. Matt saw Maria get off the hovercraft, but noticed she slipped away to the music room instead. He followed her to the music room, where she was waiting for him in the secret passage. They talk for a bit, and Matt explains to Maria how he is different from other clones. Maria brings up how Tom is "considered good enough to marry" her, and Matt is definitely unhappy with that possibility. I don't think Tom and Maria will marry, unless they are absolutely forced to. Changing the subject, Matt shows Maria the photo of Epseranza Mendoza from The History of Opium. Matt suggests that Maria should try to contact her mother, because she could keep Maria and Tom from having to get married. It is so obvious Matt is jealous and doesn't want Tom to have Maria. Knowing Emilia will be looking for her, Maria sneaks back to where everyone else is. It is time for the wedding, and Matt watches from the peephole in the secret passage with a pocket telescope. During the ceremony, El Patron passes out and falls out of his chair. We later find out that he had a heart attack. Everyone rushes out, leaving Steven and Emilia alone at the altar. It seems like something always goes wrong during events like this at the Alacran Estate.
Chapter 22 Summary: Matt begins to panic, because he thinks El Patron is going to kill him for organs, but he is not completely positive. Maria goes the secret passage and tells Matt to stay put until she can come back to get him. She says they can take her dad's hovercraft and pretend Matt is her new eejit servant. Matt waits for Maria to come back, becoming thirstier by the minute. Maria finally comes back with water, and news that El Patron is doing better. He changes into an eejit uniform Maria got from Tam Lin, and they make their way out to the hovercraft. Trying to get out of the passage, they are unable to find the peephole in the wall. Maria finds a scorpion on the wall and explains how El Patron used to use the passage to spy on people. It only works for El Patron, so enemies could not sneak in. The scorpion only shows up in red light, and El Patron presses his hand against the scorpion to open the wall. By doing this, he can enter and exit the house without being seen by the security cameras. If anyone else presses the scorpion, a jolt of electricity goes through their arm, and the whole passage fills up with a poisonous gas. Since Matt is El Patron's clone, Maria suggests it could work, since they have the same DNA. It is basically a now or never situation, so Matt decides to press the scorpion, but not before Maria and Matt declare their love for each other. How sweet! He presses the scorpion, and it opens. Whooo! They eventually ended up on the hovercraft landing field, where they walked to the right hovercraft. When they board the hovercraft, Emilia and Steven show up. Maria tells Emilia that their mother is alive, but Emilia says she has known that for years. If I were Maria, I would be very upset with Emilia. Steven tells Matt he has to go to the hospital, and he tells the bodyguards to take Matt away. Matt feels betrayed, because he always thought Steven and Emilia were somewhat friends. Maria screams for someone to help him, but no one listened to her.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Chapters 18-20
I read 24 pages.
"Some people are like that, mi vida. First they get older and older, and then they stop and get younger and younger. El Patron believes he's about thirty-five years old now, so he thinks you're his son, Felipe. He can't possibly know who you really are." (page 201)
I think Celia is trying to explain to Matt how when some people get older, they begin forgetting things and going a bit out of their normal state of mind. I'm not sure if Matt gets her drift, but it seems as if she may be trying to tell Matt that El Patron won't be around for as long as he may think.
Chapter 18 Summary: Matt gets woken up by Celia, and they rush to the hospital. He thinks that Celia has brought him to the hospital because she thinks he's sick. She tells him that El Patron has had a heart attack, and he vomits from shock. He gets put on a hospital bed because, "His heartbeat's all over the place!" (Page 180) Tam Lin goes in to see him, and Matt asks about El Patron. Tam Lin tells him that they had to do a piggyback transplant on him. After the transplant, El Patron didn't act as lively as he once was previously. It was obvious that he was slowly beginning to get to the point where he wouldn't be around much longer.
Chapter 19 Summary: One day when Matt was singing a Spanish ballad for El Patron, his voice cracked, then dropped an octave. Matt was a bit confused at this, as he didn't exactly know what was going on. He thought he was just losing his voice, and El Patron just laughed at him and told him to ask Celia or Tam Lin. Later when Matt asked Celia about it, she burst into tears, as she knew he was getting older. It made me laugh at how emotional she was being. Celia and Tam Lin throw him a little coming-of-age celebration out in the courtyard. After Matt goes to bed, Matt wonders if he'll end up like the other clones, being used to transplant organs whenever El Patron needed them. He insists that he's different, and wasn't created to provide spare parts to El Patron.
Chapter 20 Summary: Matt wakes up feeling as if a boulder was resting on his chest, and the only way he could roll it off would be to learn that his fears weren't real. He decides to go to the oasis. Ignoring Tam Lin's warnings about how he doesn't need to go into the water because "the bottom was murky with unexpected depths," he goes for a swim anyways. He thinks about running away but decides not to yet. Matt decides to continue reading The History of Opium. He reads about how El Patron came up with eejits, and how they are used for fertilizer for the poppy fields when they die. I thought that was a bit strange, but understandable since it's El Patron we're talking about here. Matt stops reading, and looks through the book for a photo of Esperanza. He thinks that she looks a lot like Maria, and upon reading the description, finds that she is the ex-wife of Senator Mendoza. Matt now feels anger and hate towards Esperanza, because she left Maria to think that she was dead. He decides that he'll show Maria the photo in the book the next time she visits. El Patron begins calling Matt Felipe, which confuses Matt. Celia tells him that Felipe is El Patron's son, who died eighty years ago. Matt asks her what he should do, and she tells him to be Felipe for El Patron. Matt has a bigger desire to run away from Opium, and Tam Lin had already provided him with supplies. He knew he couldn't leave before Steven and Emilia's wedding though, because he couldn't go without seeing with Maria, which I thought was sweet.
"Some people are like that, mi vida. First they get older and older, and then they stop and get younger and younger. El Patron believes he's about thirty-five years old now, so he thinks you're his son, Felipe. He can't possibly know who you really are." (page 201)
I think Celia is trying to explain to Matt how when some people get older, they begin forgetting things and going a bit out of their normal state of mind. I'm not sure if Matt gets her drift, but it seems as if she may be trying to tell Matt that El Patron won't be around for as long as he may think.
Chapter 18 Summary: Matt gets woken up by Celia, and they rush to the hospital. He thinks that Celia has brought him to the hospital because she thinks he's sick. She tells him that El Patron has had a heart attack, and he vomits from shock. He gets put on a hospital bed because, "His heartbeat's all over the place!" (Page 180) Tam Lin goes in to see him, and Matt asks about El Patron. Tam Lin tells him that they had to do a piggyback transplant on him. After the transplant, El Patron didn't act as lively as he once was previously. It was obvious that he was slowly beginning to get to the point where he wouldn't be around much longer.
Chapter 19 Summary: One day when Matt was singing a Spanish ballad for El Patron, his voice cracked, then dropped an octave. Matt was a bit confused at this, as he didn't exactly know what was going on. He thought he was just losing his voice, and El Patron just laughed at him and told him to ask Celia or Tam Lin. Later when Matt asked Celia about it, she burst into tears, as she knew he was getting older. It made me laugh at how emotional she was being. Celia and Tam Lin throw him a little coming-of-age celebration out in the courtyard. After Matt goes to bed, Matt wonders if he'll end up like the other clones, being used to transplant organs whenever El Patron needed them. He insists that he's different, and wasn't created to provide spare parts to El Patron.
Chapter 20 Summary: Matt wakes up feeling as if a boulder was resting on his chest, and the only way he could roll it off would be to learn that his fears weren't real. He decides to go to the oasis. Ignoring Tam Lin's warnings about how he doesn't need to go into the water because "the bottom was murky with unexpected depths," he goes for a swim anyways. He thinks about running away but decides not to yet. Matt decides to continue reading The History of Opium. He reads about how El Patron came up with eejits, and how they are used for fertilizer for the poppy fields when they die. I thought that was a bit strange, but understandable since it's El Patron we're talking about here. Matt stops reading, and looks through the book for a photo of Esperanza. He thinks that she looks a lot like Maria, and upon reading the description, finds that she is the ex-wife of Senator Mendoza. Matt now feels anger and hate towards Esperanza, because she left Maria to think that she was dead. He decides that he'll show Maria the photo in the book the next time she visits. El Patron begins calling Matt Felipe, which confuses Matt. Celia tells him that Felipe is El Patron's son, who died eighty years ago. Matt asks her what he should do, and she tells him to be Felipe for El Patron. Matt has a bigger desire to run away from Opium, and Tam Lin had already provided him with supplies. He knew he couldn't leave before Steven and Emilia's wedding though, because he couldn't go without seeing with Maria, which I thought was sweet.
Chapter 17
I read 11 pages.
"You do that," Matt repeated, "and I'll tell the doctor how you treated El Patron's clone."
"Say what?" said Hugh, lifting his boot from Matt's chest.
"I'm El Patron's clone. I was visiting the water purification plant and got lost. Better yet, you can take me to the Big House and I'll send a message to him." (page 173)
Matt knows if he tells anyone he's El Patron's clone, he can get out of almost anything, since no one wants to upset El Patron. It's very smart for Matt to do this, and I bet it is helpful in situations like the one he was in during that paragraph."
Chapter 17 Summary: Matt continues trying to speak with Rosa, but she replied with the same thing every time, "Do you wish another horse, Master?" He goes to the oasis and begins reading one of the books Tam Lin had left him in the chest of supplies. While reading, he sees El Patron's name, and the book tells how he was a drug dealer and that drugs were illegal. Matt does not continue reading the book, because of the negative things it says about El Patron. As he goes back, he stops by the water purification plant. He can smell the dead fish and chemicals, and he sees the wastelands, where all of the chemicals and dead fish and such go. Matt notices that they lead to a bunch of buildings, and he wonders if that is where the eejits live. The smell gets to him, and just as he was about to pass out, two people yank him out of the yellow sludge. They think he's an eejit, and after he says he's not, they think he must be an illegal and begin to take him to the hospital to probably turn him into an eejit. Matt says if they do that, he'll just tell the doctor how they treated El Patron's clone. The two men, Hugh and Ralf, begin talking to Matt about where they come from. Matt realizes that they are murderers on the run, and that is why they are no longer where they come from anymore. Matt asks if Tam Lin had killed anyone, and they call him a "bloody terrorist." They tell him how Tam Lin placed a bomb outside the Prime Minister's house in London trying to kill him. "It's a shame a school bus pulled up at the wrong moment," said Hugh. "The blast killed twenty kiddies." (page 177)
I found this chapter quite interesting. I learned more about Tam Lin, and how he's not as innocent as I thought he may have been.
"You do that," Matt repeated, "and I'll tell the doctor how you treated El Patron's clone."
"Say what?" said Hugh, lifting his boot from Matt's chest.
"I'm El Patron's clone. I was visiting the water purification plant and got lost. Better yet, you can take me to the Big House and I'll send a message to him." (page 173)
Matt knows if he tells anyone he's El Patron's clone, he can get out of almost anything, since no one wants to upset El Patron. It's very smart for Matt to do this, and I bet it is helpful in situations like the one he was in during that paragraph."
Chapter 17 Summary: Matt continues trying to speak with Rosa, but she replied with the same thing every time, "Do you wish another horse, Master?" He goes to the oasis and begins reading one of the books Tam Lin had left him in the chest of supplies. While reading, he sees El Patron's name, and the book tells how he was a drug dealer and that drugs were illegal. Matt does not continue reading the book, because of the negative things it says about El Patron. As he goes back, he stops by the water purification plant. He can smell the dead fish and chemicals, and he sees the wastelands, where all of the chemicals and dead fish and such go. Matt notices that they lead to a bunch of buildings, and he wonders if that is where the eejits live. The smell gets to him, and just as he was about to pass out, two people yank him out of the yellow sludge. They think he's an eejit, and after he says he's not, they think he must be an illegal and begin to take him to the hospital to probably turn him into an eejit. Matt says if they do that, he'll just tell the doctor how they treated El Patron's clone. The two men, Hugh and Ralf, begin talking to Matt about where they come from. Matt realizes that they are murderers on the run, and that is why they are no longer where they come from anymore. Matt asks if Tam Lin had killed anyone, and they call him a "bloody terrorist." They tell him how Tam Lin placed a bomb outside the Prime Minister's house in London trying to kill him. "It's a shame a school bus pulled up at the wrong moment," said Hugh. "The blast killed twenty kiddies." (page 177)
I found this chapter quite interesting. I learned more about Tam Lin, and how he's not as innocent as I thought he may have been.
Chapters 15-16
I read 19 pages.
"This does not belong here!" the priest thundered. "This unbaptized limb of Satan has no right to make a mockery of this rite! Would you bring a dog to church?" (Pages 153-154)
Just like everyone else, the priest sees Matt as an animal instead of person just because he's a clone. The only people who see him as a human being are Celia, Tam Lin, El Patron, and Maria. I like how Maria replied with, "Saint Francis would take a dog to church." She is trying to see Matt for who he actually is, not just as another clone.
Chapter 15 Summary: When Matt requests a safe horse to go to the oasis Tam Lin usually takes him to, he notices the eejit bringing him the horse is Rosa. He tries to make conversation with her, but she won't listen since she's now an eejit. At the oasis, Matt finds a trunk full of supplies that Tam Lin has left him. He stays there for a little while, then finds everyone in a frenzy when he returns. Matt asks Celia why everyone is panicking, and she tells him that El Viejo has died. At the funeral, Matt is not happy when he finds Tom and Maria holding hands. When Matt was at El Veijo's casket, the priest is furious that he is there. Celia explains that El Patron wanted him there, and Maria comes over to defend Matt. Maria takes Matt to the music room, and they go hide in the secret passage where they kiss.
"This does not belong here!" the priest thundered. "This unbaptized limb of Satan has no right to make a mockery of this rite! Would you bring a dog to church?" (Pages 153-154)
Just like everyone else, the priest sees Matt as an animal instead of person just because he's a clone. The only people who see him as a human being are Celia, Tam Lin, El Patron, and Maria. I like how Maria replied with, "Saint Francis would take a dog to church." She is trying to see Matt for who he actually is, not just as another clone.
Chapter 15 Summary: When Matt requests a safe horse to go to the oasis Tam Lin usually takes him to, he notices the eejit bringing him the horse is Rosa. He tries to make conversation with her, but she won't listen since she's now an eejit. At the oasis, Matt finds a trunk full of supplies that Tam Lin has left him. He stays there for a little while, then finds everyone in a frenzy when he returns. Matt asks Celia why everyone is panicking, and she tells him that El Viejo has died. At the funeral, Matt is not happy when he finds Tom and Maria holding hands. When Matt was at El Veijo's casket, the priest is furious that he is there. Celia explains that El Patron wanted him there, and Maria comes over to defend Matt. Maria takes Matt to the music room, and they go hide in the secret passage where they kiss.
Chapter 14
I read 7 pages.
"Once El Patron decides something belongs to him, he never lets it go."
"Never?" said Matt.
"Never." (Page 139)
This explains so much about El Patron! I thought he seemed like the type of person that doesn't let anything go. After this, Celia continues to explain that El Patron doesn't only keep material things, but people too. It's the reason why Felicia is basically held prisoner in the house and why everyone is under his control, because he doesn't like to let things go.
Chapter 14 Summary: Celia tells Matt how became a servant for the Alacrans, and how she met El Patron. I think this was a bit of a filler chapter, although we found out a little about El Patron.
"Once El Patron decides something belongs to him, he never lets it go."
"Never?" said Matt.
"Never." (Page 139)
This explains so much about El Patron! I thought he seemed like the type of person that doesn't let anything go. After this, Celia continues to explain that El Patron doesn't only keep material things, but people too. It's the reason why Felicia is basically held prisoner in the house and why everyone is under his control, because he doesn't like to let things go.
Chapter 14 Summary: Celia tells Matt how became a servant for the Alacrans, and how she met El Patron. I think this was a bit of a filler chapter, although we found out a little about El Patron.
Chapters 11-13
I read 33 pages.
"Marriage doesn't mean much to this crowd. Felicia ran off with MacGregor, oh, years ago. I guess she got bored hanging out here. Only it didn't work out. El Patron had brought her back---he doesn't like people taking his possessions---and MacGregor let him do it. Felicia was beginning to bore him.
"Mr. Alacran was very, very angry because he didn't want her back, but El Patron didn't care. Mr. Alacran doesn't talk to her anymore. He won't even look at her. She's a prisoner in the house, and the servants supply her with all the booze she can handle. Which is a lot, let me tell you." (page 124)
Celia was telling Matt how Tom was MacGregor's son, and not Mr. Alacran's. I was not expecting that at all, but I can see how the situation makes sense. It really explains why the novel makes her seem rather distant from everything and always drinking.
Chapter 11 Summary: In this chapter, the last half of the birthday party takes place. Right before the meal, Matt secretly switches Maria's name card so she is sitting next to him, and he places Tom's name card at the little kid's table. Maria is definitely not happy with Matt doing that, and tries to take away his present from her when El Patron and Matt open gifts. He demands her to give the present back, along with a birthday kiss. In this little scene, you can really tell the relation between El Patron and Matt.
Chapter 12 Summary: Tom is being mischievous again, and I believe Felicia was in on his plan, too. Felicia comes to visit Matt and tells him that Maria wants to see him. She says to go to Maria, as her father wouldn't let her go to Matt. When he arrives at the hospital, Maria says, "I don't see why I should talk to you at all." He replies with, "It was your idea." In the next paragraph, she says, "You're the one who invited me. Why couldn't you find somewhere nice? This place is creepy." Matt tells her he didn't invite her, but he does want to see her. Tom told Maria the same thing that Felicia told Matt to get them both to go to the hospital, seeing as Tom most likely asked Felicia to help. Tom makes it seem like there is a cat in danger, because he knows Maria will want to help it. Of course it wasn't actually a cat, but a clone. The clone was having a fit, shrieking and screaming, which scared Maria. Matt points out it looks like Tom, which Tom immediately denies Matt's observation.
Chapter 13 Summary: This chapter was quite eventful. We learn that Tom is actually MacGregor's son, explaining why his clone looked so much like Tom. Matt is trying to thinks of plans to get Maria to forgive him and talk to him, but he couldn't find any time when she was alone to talk to her. He has an idea that if he takes Furball, she will talk to him. Matt feeds Furball meat so he will sleep and be quiet, then sends Maria a note to meet him so he can explain everything. His plan didn't have the exact outcome as expected. Furball is dead and Matt is to be blamed, since his fingerprints were found on the laudanum bottle, even though he didn't use it. Personally, I believe Tom killed Furball, since he already put the poor dog in the toilet once, and he was torturing frogs on the lawn. Senator Mendoza bans Matt from seeing Maria. When Matt tries to explain that he didn't kill Furball, no one will believe him.
"Marriage doesn't mean much to this crowd. Felicia ran off with MacGregor, oh, years ago. I guess she got bored hanging out here. Only it didn't work out. El Patron had brought her back---he doesn't like people taking his possessions---and MacGregor let him do it. Felicia was beginning to bore him.
"Mr. Alacran was very, very angry because he didn't want her back, but El Patron didn't care. Mr. Alacran doesn't talk to her anymore. He won't even look at her. She's a prisoner in the house, and the servants supply her with all the booze she can handle. Which is a lot, let me tell you." (page 124)
Celia was telling Matt how Tom was MacGregor's son, and not Mr. Alacran's. I was not expecting that at all, but I can see how the situation makes sense. It really explains why the novel makes her seem rather distant from everything and always drinking.
Chapter 11 Summary: In this chapter, the last half of the birthday party takes place. Right before the meal, Matt secretly switches Maria's name card so she is sitting next to him, and he places Tom's name card at the little kid's table. Maria is definitely not happy with Matt doing that, and tries to take away his present from her when El Patron and Matt open gifts. He demands her to give the present back, along with a birthday kiss. In this little scene, you can really tell the relation between El Patron and Matt.
Chapter 12 Summary: Tom is being mischievous again, and I believe Felicia was in on his plan, too. Felicia comes to visit Matt and tells him that Maria wants to see him. She says to go to Maria, as her father wouldn't let her go to Matt. When he arrives at the hospital, Maria says, "I don't see why I should talk to you at all." He replies with, "It was your idea." In the next paragraph, she says, "You're the one who invited me. Why couldn't you find somewhere nice? This place is creepy." Matt tells her he didn't invite her, but he does want to see her. Tom told Maria the same thing that Felicia told Matt to get them both to go to the hospital, seeing as Tom most likely asked Felicia to help. Tom makes it seem like there is a cat in danger, because he knows Maria will want to help it. Of course it wasn't actually a cat, but a clone. The clone was having a fit, shrieking and screaming, which scared Maria. Matt points out it looks like Tom, which Tom immediately denies Matt's observation.
Chapter 13 Summary: This chapter was quite eventful. We learn that Tom is actually MacGregor's son, explaining why his clone looked so much like Tom. Matt is trying to thinks of plans to get Maria to forgive him and talk to him, but he couldn't find any time when she was alone to talk to her. He has an idea that if he takes Furball, she will talk to him. Matt feeds Furball meat so he will sleep and be quiet, then sends Maria a note to meet him so he can explain everything. His plan didn't have the exact outcome as expected. Furball is dead and Matt is to be blamed, since his fingerprints were found on the laudanum bottle, even though he didn't use it. Personally, I believe Tom killed Furball, since he already put the poor dog in the toilet once, and he was torturing frogs on the lawn. Senator Mendoza bans Matt from seeing Maria. When Matt tries to explain that he didn't kill Furball, no one will believe him.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Chapters 8-10
I read 17 pages.
There wasn't much dialogue throughout these two chapters, but I really liked one part in chapter 9. "Matt discovered he could re-create the songs Celia sang to him, using one finger. Felicia used all ten, but he hadn't figured out how to do that yet. Even so, the ability to create music filled him with a joy too large to contain. He forgot where he was. He forgot he was a clone. The music made up for everything--the silent contempt of the servants, Steven's and Emilia's snubs, Tom's hatred." (page 90) It is great that Matt has found something that he loves to do, and it makes him truly happy. The best thing is that while he's playing piano and being entranced by the music, he doesn't worry about being different from the others, and he completely forgets about anything mean they have to say about him. Music is his way to escape from the world for a little while.
Chapter 8 Summary: Tam Lin takes Matt to a secret oasis only he knows about, and they have a picnic. Matt finds out how he was created, and Tam Lin explains to him what an "eejit" actually is.
Chapter 9 Summary: Learning at home, Matt ends up progressing farther than the other kids his age. While wondering around the house one day, Matt discovers Felicia playing the piano. Entranced by it, he ends up hiding behind the potted plants everyday to listen to her music. She didn't get up until the afternoon the next day, but she was only up for an hour, so Matt decided to play the piano. He learns he can re-create some of the songs Celia would sing to him, and soon enough, he has a love and talent for music.
Chapter 10 Summary: El Patrón's 143th birthday is celebrated, but other than that, nothing else really happens. It was a rather short chapter.
There wasn't much dialogue throughout these two chapters, but I really liked one part in chapter 9. "Matt discovered he could re-create the songs Celia sang to him, using one finger. Felicia used all ten, but he hadn't figured out how to do that yet. Even so, the ability to create music filled him with a joy too large to contain. He forgot where he was. He forgot he was a clone. The music made up for everything--the silent contempt of the servants, Steven's and Emilia's snubs, Tom's hatred." (page 90) It is great that Matt has found something that he loves to do, and it makes him truly happy. The best thing is that while he's playing piano and being entranced by the music, he doesn't worry about being different from the others, and he completely forgets about anything mean they have to say about him. Music is his way to escape from the world for a little while.
Chapter 8 Summary: Tam Lin takes Matt to a secret oasis only he knows about, and they have a picnic. Matt finds out how he was created, and Tam Lin explains to him what an "eejit" actually is.
Chapter 9 Summary: Learning at home, Matt ends up progressing farther than the other kids his age. While wondering around the house one day, Matt discovers Felicia playing the piano. Entranced by it, he ends up hiding behind the potted plants everyday to listen to her music. She didn't get up until the afternoon the next day, but she was only up for an hour, so Matt decided to play the piano. He learns he can re-create some of the songs Celia would sing to him, and soon enough, he has a love and talent for music.
Chapter 10 Summary: El Patrón's 143th birthday is celebrated, but other than that, nothing else really happens. It was a rather short chapter.
Chapter 7
I read 10 pages.
"You're right," Tom said suddenly. I did tease Matt. I'm really sorry about it." (page 66) This kid is such a fake! He is always so mean, but the minute there's an adult, he acts like the sweetest child ever. Tom is like that one kid that everyone knows but actually can't stand them.
Chapter 7 Summary: Matt begins "school", but something ends up making Matt snap on day six for some reason, causing him to finally talk! "Who can tell many apples I have here?" warbled Teacher on day six. "I'll bet it's my good boy!" Matt suddenly snapped. "I'm not a good boy!" he screamed. "I'm a bad clone! And I hate counting and I hate you!" (page 73) Matt goes on a bit of a raging fit here, and ends up making the teacher cry. After calming the teacher down and getting her to leave, Tam Lin, the bodyguard, decides to take Matt on a picnic.
"You're right," Tom said suddenly. I did tease Matt. I'm really sorry about it." (page 66) This kid is such a fake! He is always so mean, but the minute there's an adult, he acts like the sweetest child ever. Tom is like that one kid that everyone knows but actually can't stand them.
Chapter 7 Summary: Matt begins "school", but something ends up making Matt snap on day six for some reason, causing him to finally talk! "Who can tell many apples I have here?" warbled Teacher on day six. "I'll bet it's my good boy!" Matt suddenly snapped. "I'm not a good boy!" he screamed. "I'm a bad clone! And I hate counting and I hate you!" (page 73) Matt goes on a bit of a raging fit here, and ends up making the teacher cry. After calming the teacher down and getting her to leave, Tam Lin, the bodyguard, decides to take Matt on a picnic.
Chapters 5-6
I read 27 pages.
"No I'm not!" she cried. "Please take me with you, Willum. Please! I love you. I'll do anything for you!" (page 39) The little scene between the doctor and Rosa amused me quite a bit. I found it funny how Rosa suddenly started acting desperate to go with him. On page 38, she is acting like she doesn't even want to be in the same room as him, but then she instantly goes hysterical when she finds out he's leaving. Then she blames Matt for the doctor leaving and becomes really angry at him. I couldn't tell if she was being crazy because Willum was leaving, or if she just acts like that in certain situations.
Chapter 5 Summary: In chapter 5, Matt definitely has to get used to being alone in a small space without anyone or anything with him. The only people he has seen are the doctor, Willum, and Rosa. Rosa stills acts rude towards him and sometimes makes rude remarks, like on page 39, "Bleating won't save you, you good-for-nothing animal. No one can hear you. This whole wing of the house is empty because you are in it! They don't even put pigs down here!" After a little while, Matt befriends bugs and keeps food from his meals to attract them. When Maria and Celia come to visit him, he just sits there, barely even acknowledging their presence.
Chapter 6 Summary: Matt is sent to meet himself, El Patrón. The older man instantly liked Matt, and was shocked when he found out Matt had been staying in a room full of sawdust and chicken litter. The doctor acts surprised, as if he had no idea what Matt's recent living conditions had been like. Rosa, of course, goes crazy at this, and begins yelling and trying to go after him. "You're lying! Tell them, Willum! You thought if was funny. You said the beast---the boy---was in good condition!" (page 55) Willum then continues to tell El Patrón that Rosa had been suffering from delusions. It seems like Matt may still be in shock about everything that has recently happened, because he is still refusing to speak to anyone. El Patrón makes sure to tell everyone that Matt is to be treated with respect, just as if he was still there.
"No I'm not!" she cried. "Please take me with you, Willum. Please! I love you. I'll do anything for you!" (page 39) The little scene between the doctor and Rosa amused me quite a bit. I found it funny how Rosa suddenly started acting desperate to go with him. On page 38, she is acting like she doesn't even want to be in the same room as him, but then she instantly goes hysterical when she finds out he's leaving. Then she blames Matt for the doctor leaving and becomes really angry at him. I couldn't tell if she was being crazy because Willum was leaving, or if she just acts like that in certain situations.
Chapter 5 Summary: In chapter 5, Matt definitely has to get used to being alone in a small space without anyone or anything with him. The only people he has seen are the doctor, Willum, and Rosa. Rosa stills acts rude towards him and sometimes makes rude remarks, like on page 39, "Bleating won't save you, you good-for-nothing animal. No one can hear you. This whole wing of the house is empty because you are in it! They don't even put pigs down here!" After a little while, Matt befriends bugs and keeps food from his meals to attract them. When Maria and Celia come to visit him, he just sits there, barely even acknowledging their presence.
Chapter 6 Summary: Matt is sent to meet himself, El Patrón. The older man instantly liked Matt, and was shocked when he found out Matt had been staying in a room full of sawdust and chicken litter. The doctor acts surprised, as if he had no idea what Matt's recent living conditions had been like. Rosa, of course, goes crazy at this, and begins yelling and trying to go after him. "You're lying! Tell them, Willum! You thought if was funny. You said the beast---the boy---was in good condition!" (page 55) Willum then continues to tell El Patrón that Rosa had been suffering from delusions. It seems like Matt may still be in shock about everything that has recently happened, because he is still refusing to speak to anyone. El Patrón makes sure to tell everyone that Matt is to be treated with respect, just as if he was still there.
Chapter 4
I read chapter 4, which was 11 pages long.
As I was reading, two quotes stuck out to me. On page 26, "That's disgusting. Clones aren't people," cried Emilia. On page 28, "Can I send it back to the poppy fields?" inquired the fierce man. In both of these quotes, they are talking about Matt, but they are just being incredibly rude towards him. Emilia and Steven were basically judging Matt because they found out he was different from them. Before they knew anything about Matt, they weren't being hateful to him. I think if they were never told that Matt was a clone, they would have kept being friendly and treating him like a person. Also, the man was completely hateful to Matt by calling him "it", getting furious when he sees Matt inside the house, and making Rosa throw him out onto the lawn.
Chapter 4 Summary: Maria snuck into the room that Rosa locked Matt in to give him food and something to drink, but ended up sticking around to talk to him. Matt starts telling her scary stories, and she decides to spend the night with him, because she's afraid she will get eaten by monsters if she leaves. Rosa and some other people come into Matt's room the next morning, and they are completely angry and disgusted that she was with Matt. Maria gets told she will be sent home right away. Then Rosa calls Matt a "little brute" because the bucket he has to use the restroom with gets knocked over, but she claims he's not housebroken.
As I was reading, two quotes stuck out to me. On page 26, "That's disgusting. Clones aren't people," cried Emilia. On page 28, "Can I send it back to the poppy fields?" inquired the fierce man. In both of these quotes, they are talking about Matt, but they are just being incredibly rude towards him. Emilia and Steven were basically judging Matt because they found out he was different from them. Before they knew anything about Matt, they weren't being hateful to him. I think if they were never told that Matt was a clone, they would have kept being friendly and treating him like a person. Also, the man was completely hateful to Matt by calling him "it", getting furious when he sees Matt inside the house, and making Rosa throw him out onto the lawn.
Chapter 4 Summary: Maria snuck into the room that Rosa locked Matt in to give him food and something to drink, but ended up sticking around to talk to him. Matt starts telling her scary stories, and she decides to spend the night with him, because she's afraid she will get eaten by monsters if she leaves. Rosa and some other people come into Matt's room the next morning, and they are completely angry and disgusted that she was with Matt. Maria gets told she will be sent home right away. Then Rosa calls Matt a "little brute" because the bucket he has to use the restroom with gets knocked over, but she claims he's not housebroken.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Chapters 1-3
I read 23 pages, chapters 1-3, of The House of the Scorpion.
The beginning of this story was quite interesting, as I felt the need to keep reading and find out what happens next. While I was reading, one situation caught my attention. Towards the bottom of page 21, Rosa says, "We'll have to wait. He's treating your grandfather. At least we can clean the kid up." When she says this, it means she cares enough to try to help Matt. She is treating him like any other person, until on page 23 when the 'Property of the Alacran Estate.' Upon learning that Matt is a clone, she begins to treat him like he's an animal.
Chapter 1 Summary: This chapter explains how Matt was created. Matt's creator, Eduardo, was pressured to do everything right, because his life depended on it, as well as his wife, father, and children's lives. If he messed anything up while creating Matt, he was to be sent to "the Farms." While we do not know what the Farms is, it must be bad if Eduardo is frightened about being sent there. When a clone is created, the scientists basically "dumb down" the clones' brains, so they won't become too powerful. Just as Eduardo is about to do this to Matt, Lisa, another lab worker, stops him. Eduardo is left to wonder if he just did Matt a favor by keeping his brain the same instead of making him be less intelligent.
Chapter 2 Summary: Part of this chapter is focused on Matt and Celia's relationship. Celia is Matt's caregiver, but she refuses to let him call her "mama" even if he does on accident sometimes. At the beginning of chapter two, Celia is leaving to go to work at the Big House, but Matt doesn't want her to leave.We soon find out that Matt and Celia live in a little shack in the poppy fields a few miles away from the Big House. It is just the two of them living in the small house, so Matt gets lonely when Celia has to go to work. Matt is basically held prisoner in the shack all day long and is never allowed to go outside because Celia tells him it is too dangerous. Being so lonely, Matt gets really excited, almost overwhelmed, when he hears voices in the poppy fields. Part of the chapter is focused on Matt and Celia's relationship. Celia is Matt's caregiver, but she refuses to let him call her "mama" even if he does on accident sometimes.
Chapter 3 Summary: The children that visited Matt in chapter two, Steven and Emilia, come back to the shack and they brought Maria, a little girl about Matt's age. This time he attempts to make conversation with everyone but he's too nervous and anxious. Steven and Emilia start to leave when Matt won't talk, but Maria stays because she doesn't want to go back to the Big House. Trying to get Maria off the ground before dark so the chupacabras won't get to her, Matt breaks his glass window and jumps out without a second thought. He hurts his feet and hands badly along with many cuts, so Steven and Emilia carry him back to Alacran Estates, or the Big House. When they arrive with Matt, Rosa and the other servants are running around trying to help him. During the process of helping Matt get the glass out of his skin, a man, whom Matt describes as the "large fierce looking man," enters and tells everyone that Matt's a clone. After that, everyone's opinions chnage towards Matt. Rosa begins to treat him like dirt, and she throws him out onto the lawn, before relocating him to a small, confined room.
The beginning of this story was quite interesting, as I felt the need to keep reading and find out what happens next. While I was reading, one situation caught my attention. Towards the bottom of page 21, Rosa says, "We'll have to wait. He's treating your grandfather. At least we can clean the kid up." When she says this, it means she cares enough to try to help Matt. She is treating him like any other person, until on page 23 when the 'Property of the Alacran Estate.' Upon learning that Matt is a clone, she begins to treat him like he's an animal.
Chapter 1 Summary: This chapter explains how Matt was created. Matt's creator, Eduardo, was pressured to do everything right, because his life depended on it, as well as his wife, father, and children's lives. If he messed anything up while creating Matt, he was to be sent to "the Farms." While we do not know what the Farms is, it must be bad if Eduardo is frightened about being sent there. When a clone is created, the scientists basically "dumb down" the clones' brains, so they won't become too powerful. Just as Eduardo is about to do this to Matt, Lisa, another lab worker, stops him. Eduardo is left to wonder if he just did Matt a favor by keeping his brain the same instead of making him be less intelligent.
Chapter 2 Summary: Part of this chapter is focused on Matt and Celia's relationship. Celia is Matt's caregiver, but she refuses to let him call her "mama" even if he does on accident sometimes. At the beginning of chapter two, Celia is leaving to go to work at the Big House, but Matt doesn't want her to leave.We soon find out that Matt and Celia live in a little shack in the poppy fields a few miles away from the Big House. It is just the two of them living in the small house, so Matt gets lonely when Celia has to go to work. Matt is basically held prisoner in the shack all day long and is never allowed to go outside because Celia tells him it is too dangerous. Being so lonely, Matt gets really excited, almost overwhelmed, when he hears voices in the poppy fields. Part of the chapter is focused on Matt and Celia's relationship. Celia is Matt's caregiver, but she refuses to let him call her "mama" even if he does on accident sometimes.
Chapter 3 Summary: The children that visited Matt in chapter two, Steven and Emilia, come back to the shack and they brought Maria, a little girl about Matt's age. This time he attempts to make conversation with everyone but he's too nervous and anxious. Steven and Emilia start to leave when Matt won't talk, but Maria stays because she doesn't want to go back to the Big House. Trying to get Maria off the ground before dark so the chupacabras won't get to her, Matt breaks his glass window and jumps out without a second thought. He hurts his feet and hands badly along with many cuts, so Steven and Emilia carry him back to Alacran Estates, or the Big House. When they arrive with Matt, Rosa and the other servants are running around trying to help him. During the process of helping Matt get the glass out of his skin, a man, whom Matt describes as the "large fierce looking man," enters and tells everyone that Matt's a clone. After that, everyone's opinions chnage towards Matt. Rosa begins to treat him like dirt, and she throws him out onto the lawn, before relocating him to a small, confined room.
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