Gardo takes over the narration offering the reader a different perspective on the story. We see the difference between the two boys when Gardo explains that Raphael asked ten times to go to the station but Gardo refused each time because he knew that the police would be watching them He describes Raphael as ‘a little kid,’ even though they were born on the same day. Gardo is much more street-wise and explains to Raphael that if they do not turn up to work for the police, people will begin the ask questions.
The following day the boys line up to work for the police but the whole of Behala is there to get the 100 Pesos for working. It got so over-crowded that the kids were ordered off and only the men were allowed to stay working. The lorries with more trash were forced to sit and wait as they could not drop new trash off. Gardo was worried because he knew that people were going to start getting angry. Three trucks from McKinley were allowed in because that is where the bag is placed in the bin. The children were brought back in to go through this trash and Gardo comments on how good the trash from McKinley is because it is a wealthy area.
That night the people of Behala are celebrating because they all got 100 Pesos, which allowed them to buy food and drink. Raphael’s aunt is still worried and asks him, ‘are we safe?’ Gardo lies to her and says that they are completely safe, but he knows that this is noy true. She also pleads with him to take the money but they don’t believe that the police will give it and they think that even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to keep the money safe in Behala.
Raphael’s aunt is very scared and tells Gardo that he is much smarter Raphael and pleads with him not to have anything in the house that would raise the police’s suspicions. She gives a chilling insight into the local police when she says, ‘everyone knows what things they do.’ Gardo tells the readers that he is planning something but that he needs to get to the train station first. He thinks that they could give the bag back in a couple of days or get Rat to give it back. Raphael and Gardo discuss their plans all night and the chapter ends with Gardo admitting they had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
Questions:
- Why do you think that the author decides to change narrators at this point? Do you like this change?
- Why does Gardo refuse to allow Raphael to go to the train station? What does this show about Gardo?
- How do you think the boys felt when there were so many police officers and officials? Would you have kept the bag in the same circumstances?
- How does the author use foreshadowing at the end of the chapter? What effect does this have on the reader?
- Do you think that the boys are in danger? Explain your answer.