Summary

In the first section of “The Night the Lights Went Out,” a young man named Ramon and a young woman named Juanita are “going around” together in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Ramon suggests they marry but Juanita says her father wants her to finish school and she puts him off. They pledge loyalty to each other while they are separated as their families follow the harvests and work. Soon Juanita is spending time with a young man named Ramiro who dresses very well and is a “smooth talker.” Juanita says Ramiro knows she is involved with Ramon and that they just spend their time talking. She says she doesn’t want to break up with Ramon and enjoys making the other girls jealous. Ramon learns of the situation and breaks up with her. Both plan to attend a dance and...