In the book, Ball Don't Lie, Carmen and Ruben are Sticky's seond set of foster care parents. Sticky is 12 when he comes to live with them. It doesn't last very long as Carmen longs to have a child of their own, and isn't keen on raising Sticky as their own. Rueben, having lived a similar life, urges her to be patient. But, in the end, Carmen wins and Sticky leaves again.
