Chapter 9 Summary

This chapter is about parties. The children's parties in Cuba always include costumes and chaperoning mothers. There are pisatas, but they do not hit them with a stick like they do in Mexico. They have long ribbons attached to panels at the bottom that rip them open. There is no dancing either. Just games, cake, and presents. The whole affair is very Americanized, with Happy Birthday sung, American games, and cakes with American themes.

One time, Carlos is invited to a birthday party of Sugar Boy. Sugar boy's father owns the largest sugar company in Cuba. They are wealthy beyond words. The whole class is invited to his birthday party, and Carlos is in his class. On the day of the party, his mother breaks the news to him that she has forgotten to get Sugar Boy a gift, and it is too...