Part 1, Chapter 9 Summary

The father has lost all of his land and animals. Luciano gives him the little store but they lose that as well. The old man's will is broken. At just thirteen years old, Carlos tells his parents that he is leaving. His parents tell him that he is too young, but he still leaves, taking a bus to Baguio. Carlos finds Baguio a beautiful city and looks for a job as a messenger boy or janitor. He works odd jobs in order to have money to eat. He finally obtains employment with a Miss Strandon, an American ex-patriot artist. He does the cooking and the cleaning and general housework. He becomes friends with the houseboy next door, who also works for an American. Both of them have plans to immigrate to the United States. Miss Strandon arranges a job for him...