Chapters 7 and 8 Summary and Analysis

Luis gets caught up in the riots against the Vietnam war in the 1970s and spends some time in jail, lost in the system for a period and released with no trial and no fanfare. He's held with accused murderers, including Charles Manson. Luis notes that the gang wars pause while the youth protest Vietnam. After his release, he encounters Vivian. Her brothers are hardcore gang members but the attraction between the two is vital and strong. Luis says there in an inhibition between them that breaks one night on the front porch of her house, but afterwards she cries and tells him to leave. She refuses his phone calls. When he sees her at a dance one night, she leaves, saying she'll be right back. He waits more than an hour before realizing she isn't coming back. When...