Summary

In Chapter 1, “The Baseball Glove,” Manuel Hernandez, known as Manny, is the narrator. Manny says his older brother is Bernardo, but everyone calls him Nardo. Nardo has had a lot of different jobs, including dishwasher, busboy, fry cook, and parking attendant. He lost one because he didn't show up regularly and another because the boss hated him. Nardo says he liked the job as a busboy at a high-end catering service. He was fired when, acting on a dare, he pretended to be a guest and his boss found him dancing with a girl.

Nardo and Manny get a chance to work in the field. Nardo obviously doesn't want to but he can't avoid his mother's “accusing eyes,” especially because their sister, Magda, works hard at a laundry. Everyone tries to push Nardo into getting another job. Their father rants about his...