Summary

In Chapter 5, "The Garden," Manny hopes that his mother will actually leave his father or that his father will turn his life around; but, he doesn't really believe either situation will occur. Manny's mother cleans the house and primps in preparation for her husband's homecoming. When he arrives, he promises that he's going to change. He pledges to stop spending time at Rico's Pool Hall and to actually look for a job. Manny's mother promises never to embarrass him in front of his friends. Nardo is drunk when he arrives home and Manny fills him in. The boys know their parents will likely pick fights with the children to keep from fighting with each other, at least for awhile.

Manny's father takes Nardo and Manny to their grandmother's house with instructions to make her garden “spotless” by the time he returns. The boys...