Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary

Carlos, whose legs swell during the rainy season, stays home and cares for his baby sister while his mother works. He wants to return to school but can't because he has to take care of his sister. He can't walk due to the swelling in his legs. His older brother, Luciano, returns home, having completed his time in the service. His brother developed skills such as typing while in the service that make him employable. He is good with equipment and machinery. He carries Carlos to the river and shows him how to make snares to trap birds. The birds become their pets. They never eat them or sell them. Carlos learns to appreciate beauty from Luciano. They catch parrots and sell them, earning enough to open a small store.

In the meantime, the mother has another daughter. Luciano contracted a...