Summary

In Chapter 17, school reopens. For Gabriel and other privileged city kids, life goes on much like normal. Prothé, upset, continues repeating the words: “They’ve murdered hope. They’ve murdered hope, that’s all I can say” (100). One day, Gino suggests that the group of friends wander a little farther than usual. They end up outside Francis’s house and begin picking mangoes. Suddenly, Francis ambushes them, tackling Gabriel and Gino both. Gabriel realizes that Frances truly means to kill him, and suddenly understands the meaning of violence: “Raw fear and disbelief” (103). Gino fights back, and when Francis calls his mother a whore, begins to cry. Stammering, Gino admits that his mother is dead. Francis eventually leaves them and Gabriel, tasting blood in his mouth and observing Gino’s tears, feels anger rush in and replace his fear.

In Chapter 18, Gino begins to...