Summary

The story opens in Yunior’s apartment in Paterson, New Jersey. Yunior’s age is not stated, but he is likely in his mid- to late teens. He is originally from the Dominican Republic, as is the rest of his family. Yunior narrates the story in the second person in a style that resembles a how-to guide. Through the use of various hypotheticals, contingencies, and personal details, Yunior tells the narrative of a typical date night for him. At the beginning of this narrative, his mother and brother have left to visit one of Yunior’s aunts in Union City, New Jersey, leaving Yunior alone in the apartment. In order to avoid having to join his mother and brother on the trip, Yunior feigned illness. He knows that his mother likely saw through the deception, but she begrudgingly allowed him to stay behind nonetheless...