Summary

In Chapter 6, Lewis details Caruso’s adolescence on 14th Street. Caruso is quiet, stubborn, and well-liked. During Caruso’s freshman year of high school, Reggie briefly leaves the family after fighting with Leila, but soon returns. Caruso, meanwhile, attracts attention when he begins to sing to passersby on the sidewalk. His voice is “a mighty thing, a blessing” (58), and he soonbecomes a neighborhood celebrity. Girls, in particular, adore Caruso. Eventually, Caruso drops out of school to pursue a music career. He performs at small venues and seeks out connections in the music industry. He rents a room of his own, records a demo, and secures a record contract. Caruso then becomes a much larger celebrity, and fans congregate in front of his adopted parents’ apartment on 14th Street. One night, one of the young girls greets Reggie and then tries to kiss him...