Community

The author uses this theme to explore the different neighborhoods of Houston, and to consider the way people relate to one another as members of different groups – including those determined by one's actual physical location, as well as one's race, class, and sexuality. Throughout the collection, the author depicts people demonstrating their loyalty to one another based on the fact that they belong to the same community. In “Lockwood,” the narrator recalls his mother giving food and comfort to Roberto's mother when the family was experiencing hard economic times (even though the narrator's father disapproved). In “Alief,” the entire neighborhood watches Aja cheat on her husband Paul with a “whiteboy” (7) who lived downstairs. And it was the neighbors who eventually told Paul that his wife was being unfaithful, because they felt loyal to him over James, who was white, and therefore an outsider. This story contains...