Summary

In Chapter 4, The Bullet, Manny's father uses the 20 dollars for drinking. He goes on a binge and is gone for 2 days. Manny's mother finally insists they go bring him home. Manny isn't happy about it. Even though he's hungry, but he goes with his mother. At Rico's, Manny's mother berates her husband in front of everyone. Rico refuses to give him any more to drink, and Manny's father leaves the pool hall. Manny expects his father to strike out, but he doesn't. He calls Manny a parrot, which is a reference to an old story. His mother quickly realizes that Manny's father is angrier than he's letting on.

Manny and his mother return home. His mother sends Magda to visit a friend and leaves Manny to take care of Pedi while she goes to a neighbor, Sophie, to get her hair done. Manny's...