Meme Ortiz moves into Cathy's old house after her family leaves. His actual name is Juan, and he is constantly followed by his sheepdog, with one name in English and one in Spanish, large and clumsy, and imitable of its owner.
Cathy's father had built the house, so it has slanted stairs, floors, and rooms. There are no closets and the front stairs are crooked. The backyard houses many things, including a large tree, which Juan and Esperanza use for several games. Juan breaks both his arms jumping out of the tree and winning their First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest.
