Summary

In “Peleas,” Hernández had her first fight with Tía Dora “over love” in 1981 (49). Noticing how much Tía Dora loved her sister, Liliana, Hernández became jealous. Tía Dora also disapproved of Hernández’s tomboyish behavior. Over the years, their disagreements accumulated. Tía Dora thought Hernández was moody and impolite. She became like Hernández’s friends’ “domineering mothers” (52). The only thing they did not argue “about was the kissing bug disease” (52).

Then, Tía Dora married Tío Papeles. He was healthy, fit, and a hard worker. Shortly after their marriage, they bought Hernández “a set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica” (56). Hernández never looked up the kissing bug disease.

During Hernández’s adolescence, she and Tía Dora began to disagree over politics. Then, in 1993, Tío Papeles was diagnosed with cancer...