Summary

In “Independent Living,” unable to find work in his field, Trelawny takes a job with Silver Towers, an Independent Living community for elderly, low-income citizens (133). Trelawny’s primary job is to hunt down residents and “coerce them into signing forms” that say if “you . . . cannot care for yourself or hire the necessary help, then you can no longer reside here” (133). Creating this turnover lets management increase rent more often. Carlos has proved the most difficult resident for Trelawny to track down.

The worst part of the job is that “residents wish you dead” (135). Most of their anger, however, is directed at Trelawny’s boss, El Jefe.

Sometimes Trelawny relates to the tenants. They at times remind him of his parents. Unlike him, however, his parents have “a homeland to which they can return” (136). Trelawny is still bitter that his...