Summary

In “La Pachanga,” La Gloriosa decides to come with Little Angel on his return trip to Target, to collect the decorated cake. They take a wrong turn and end up near the beach for a brief time. In Target, they flirt and have a good time, until a white woman tells them that they’ll soon “be out of this country” (202). On their way home they stop to pick up Ookie, a neighborhood boy.

Back at the house, Perla tells Little Angel that he should marry La Gloriosa. Paz and Marylú fight, and Paz calls the family “border peasants” (210). Marco spots a girl at the party that he does not know. She is not his cousin. Lalo introduces Little Angel to his daughter, Mayra, and calls her “the only good thing I ever done” (213). Little Angel...