Summary

Chapter 6 is set five years before the present time. Carlos narrates in the first person as he played with Marcus in the sand. Julian was nearby playing soccer with his friends. An attempt to pass the ball landed it in the middle of the sun umbrella under which their new next door neighbor had been sitting. Julian and Carlos helped free her from her damaged umbrella and Julian apologized. She seemed angry at first but invited Julian and his friends for cookies and lemonade if they would help take her things inside. Carlos noticed how the woman, who introduced herself as Carla, looked longingly at Marcus. Because she seemed lonely, he invited her for dinner the next day.

The following day Julian kicked his ball into Carla’s yard as his father was grilling their dinner. Carlos instructed Julian to get the ball...