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1. How does the narrator describe the community in which the brown girls live?

The narrator describes the community in which the brown girls live the dregs of Queens, New York. She then goes into more detail describing the types of shops that are located on the dangerous main road, the cracked sidewalks from the only tree, the low-flying planes, and clothes lines in small front yards.

2. How do the Italian boys change throughout Part One?

Initially the narrator introduces the Italian boys by saying they zoom past on their bikes, staring at the girls, and laughing harshly. By the end of Part One, they are telling the girls they are beautiful.

3. How does the narrator describe the various skin tones of the brown girls?

The narrator uses food and other well-known items to describe the skin tones of the brown girls. Some girls have skin the color of 7-eleven root beer, while others are the color of the sand at Rockaway beach. Some girls are the color of soil, while others are the color of charcoal eyeliner pencils. Still others are the color of hamburger patties and others the darkest thread or as light as peanut butter.

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