Summary

In Chapter 5, it is once again Sunday evening, when the Zamoras are having dinner. Arturo’s Aunt Tuti, who works as a hostess at the restaurant, is mad because she read in the newspaper that the businessman Pipo is putting in a bid on the empty lot next to the restaurant. Arturo’s friend Bren attempts to impress Arturo’s older cousin Vanessa, but she is turned off by Bren’s obnoxious Mira Bro brand deodorant. Cari proposes that the family does not act aggressively about trying to secure the lot, believing that their status as local favorites will help them when the city council votes on the different proposals. Other family members disagree, leading to an uncharacteristically tense dinner. Afterward, when Arturo talks to Carmen, she wants to privately investigate Pipo.

In Chapter 6, a few days later, Arturo runs into Carmen as...