Summary

In "True Love Game," friends Gaby and Rosario play "the true love game" in Gaby's basement" (155). Surrounded by piles of junk, the girls guess who they "will love forever" versus who "they will marry" (155). Rosario keeps the boy she loves secret: Gaby's brother, Gustavo. Gustavo is known for his knife. When other kids bother him or his brothers, he flicks his grandfather's old pocketknife to cut them.

The basement is inhabited by the ghosts of Gaby's grandparents, and a drowned boy. They want to communicate with the girls but can only "sing and chant schoolyard rhymes" (156). The drowned boy is in love with Rosario. When he tries talking to her he vomits fish.

"Earlier that day" one of the white kids stole Gustavo's knife and challenged him to a fight without it (158). Rosario tried telling him...