Summary

In the chapter titled "Cigarettes," Sal wakes up and realizes that he has missed a week of school, but he figures that his father must have made arrangements. When he gets up, he talks to his father outside while Vicente smokes a cigarette. They talk about death, and Vicente tells Sal that nothing can be done for Mima. When Sal says that he hates God and that he needs Mima and God does not, Vicente tells him that the days of carrying him are over. He can walk beside him, but not carry him. Sal goes for a walk and thinks about getting drunk so that he does not have to think about things.

It starts to rain as Sal returns home and he sees Lina's car. When he gets in the house, he smells food and feels safe in...