The Circuit

by

Francisco Jiménez

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Under the Wire Quotes

When the train stopped in Mexicali, Papa told us to get off. “We’re almost there,” he said, looking at me. We left the station. Papa carried our dark brown suitcase. We followed behind him until we reached a barbed wire fence. According to Papa, this was la frontera. He pointed out that across the
gray wire barricade was California, that famous place I had heard so much about. On both sides of the fence were armed guards dressed in green uniforms. Papa called them la migra, and explained that we had to cross the fence to the other side without being seen by them.

Related Characters: Papá (speaker), Francisco
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:

“I wonder where the train comes from,” I said. […]

“I think it comes from California.”

“California!” I exclaimed. “This is California!”

“I am not so sure,” he said. “Remember what…”

The familiar Noon Train whistle interrupted him. […] The conductor slowed the train to a crawl, waved, and gently dropped a large brown bag in front of us as he went by. We picked it up and looked inside. It was full of oranges, apples, and candy.

“See, it does come from California!” Roberto exclaimed.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Roberto (speaker)
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:
Soledad Quotes

As usual, they left me alone in the car to take care of Trampita, my little brother, who was six months old. I hated being left by myself with him while they went off to pick cotton. As they walked further into the field, I climbed
onto the roof of the car, stood on tiptoes, and watched them until I could no longer tell them apart from the other pickers. Once I lost sight of them, I felt pain in my chest, that same pain I always felt whenever they left Trampita and me alone. Sobbing, I climbed into the car and wrapped my arms around Trampita, who slept in the back seat.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Roberto, Papá, Mamá, Trampita
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

“You should be ashamed of yourself. We could be fired for this,” he said. “Besides, your job is to take care of Trampita. Is that clear?” he continued, placing both hands on his belt buckle.

Si, Papa,” I answered timidly. I was hurt and confused.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Papá (speaker), Roberto, Trampita
Page Number: 13
Explanation and Analysis:
Inside Out Quotes

But when I spoke to Arthur in Spanish and Miss Scalapino heard me, she said “NO!” with body and soul. Her head turned left and right a hundred times a second and her index finger moved from side to side as fast as a windshield wiper on a rainy day. “English, English,” she repeated. Arthur avoided me whenever she was around.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Miss Scalapino (speaker), Arthur
Page Number: 19-20
Explanation and Analysis:

I did not understand what she said, but I heard her say my name as she held up a blue ribbon. She then picked up my drawing of the butterfly […] and held it up for everyone to see. She walked up to me and handed me the drawing and the silk blue ribbon that had a number one printed on it in gold. I knew then I had received first prize for my drawing. I was so proud I felt like bursting out of my skin. […]

That afternoon, during our free period, I went over to check on the caterpillar. I turned the jar around, trying to see the cocoon. It was beginning to crack open.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Miss Scalapino
Related Symbols: Caterpillars and Butterflies
Page Number: 24-25
Explanation and Analysis:
Miracle in Tent City Quotes

When I saw Mama and Papa without Torito, I panicked. “Is he dead?” I cried out. […]

“No, he isn’t,” Mama snapped. “God won’t let him. You’ll see,” she added in a harsh tone. Her face was flushed and her dark eyes were full of tears. I was surprised and puzzled. Why would she be angry at me?

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Papá, Mamá, Torito
Page Number: 38
Explanation and Analysis:
El Angel de Oro Quotes

I went around to the side of the cabin and peeked through the window. The cabin was completely empty. My heart sank into my stomach. Slowly I walked home, feeling a lump in my throat. I heard Miguelito’s laugh in my head and thought about our game with the puddles. When I got home I stood by our window and stared at our neighbor’s goldfish for the longest time.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Miguelito
Related Symbols: The Goldfish
Page Number: 49
Explanation and Analysis:
Christmas Gift Quotes

We were leaving only three weeks after I had enrolled in the fourth grade for the first time that year. As we drove by the school I saw some kids I knew on the playground. I imagined myself playing with them with the ball I would get for Christmas. I waved to them but they did not see me.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker)
Page Number: 53-54
Explanation and Analysis:

Searching for words to tell Mama how I felt, I looked up at her. Her eyes were full of tears. Papa, who was sitting next to her on the mattress, lifted its corner and pulled out from underneath the white embroidered handkerchief. He tenderly handed it to Mama, saying, “Feliz Navidad, vieja.”

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Papá (speaker), Mamá
Page Number: 56
Explanation and Analysis:
Death Forgiven Quotes

[Papa] had been in a terrible mood the last few days because he was not sure where we would work now that the grape season was almost over. Covering his ears with his hands, he bolted to the corner of the garage, grabbed the broom, and swung with all his might at my friend who was perched on the wire. Red, green, and yellow feathers scattered everywhere. El Perico hit the dirt floor like a wet rag. Instantly Roberto, Mama, and I started wailing. My
father shouted at all of us to stop.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Roberto, Papá, Mamá, El Perico
Page Number: 59
Explanation and Analysis:
Cotton Sack Quotes

The pounding of the rain on the roof woke me several times during the night. Every time I opened my eyes, I saw the burning tip of Papa’s cigarette glowing in the dark; other times I heard the rattle of his aspirin bottle. I did not mind the rain because it meant I could sleep in the next morning. The
cotton would be too wet to pick. Because we got paid three cents a pound, most ranchers did not let us pick cotton when it was wet.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Papá
Page Number: 64
Explanation and Analysis:

I could not go on. Frustrated and disappointed, I walked over to Papa. He straightened up and looked down at me. His eyes were red and watery from the cold. Before I said anything, he looked at Roberto, who bravely kept on picking, and told me to go over to the fire. I knew then I had not yet earned my own cotton sack.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Papá (speaker), Roberto
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:
The Circuit Quotes

As we drove home Papa did not say a word. With both hands on the wheel, he stared at the dirt road. My older brother, Roberto, was also silent. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. […]

Yes, it was that time of year. When I opened the front door to the shack, I stopped. Everything we owned was neatly packed in cardboard boxes. Suddenly I felt even more the weight of hours, days, weeks, and months of work. I sat down on a box.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Roberto, Papá
Page Number: 74
Explanation and Analysis:

It was Monday, the first week of November. The grape season was over and I could now go to school. I woke up early that morning and lay in bed, looking
at the stars and savoring the thought of not going to work and of starting sixth grade for the first time that year. […] I sat at the table across from Roberto, but I kept my head down. I did not want to look up and face him. I knew he was sad. He was not going to school today. He was not going tomorrow, or next week, or next month. He would not go until the cotton season was over, and that was sometime in February. I rubbed my hands together and watched the dry, acid stained skin fall to the floor in little rolls.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Roberto
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:

The rest of the month I spent my lunch hours working on English with Mr. Lema, my best friend at school.

One Friday during lunch hour Mr. Lema asked me to take a walk with him to the music room. “Do you like music?” he asked me as we entered the building. “Yes, I like corridos,” I answered. He then picked up a trumpet, blew on it, and handed it to me. The sound gave me goose bumps. […] I had heard it in many corridos. “How would you like to learn how to play it?” he asked. He must have read my face because before I could answer, he added: “I’ll teach you how to play it during our lunch hours.”

That day I could hardly wait to tell Papa and Mama the great news […] but when I opened the door to our shack, I saw that everything we owned was neatly packed in cardboard boxes.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Mr. Lema (speaker), Papá, Mamá, Miss Scalapino
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Learning the Game Quotes

The contratista walked up to Gabriel and yelled in his face, “Well this isn’t your country, idiot! You either do what I say or I’ll have you fired!”

“Don’t do that, please,” Gabriel said. “I have a family to feed.”

“I don’t give a damn about your family!” the contratista replied, grabbing Gabriel by the shirt collar and pushing him. […] As he hit the ground, the contratista kicked him in the side with the tip of his boot. Gabriel sprung up and, with both hands clenched, lunged at the contratista. White as a ghost, Diaz quickly jumped back. [...]

I felt scared. I had not seen men fight before. My mouth felt dry and my hands and legs began to shake.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Mr. Diaz (speaker), Gabriel (speaker)
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:
To Have and to Hold Quotes

[…] Carl said, “When can I come to your house and see your collection?” His question took me by surprise. I never thought he would want to visit me at our home. And after seeing his house, I was not sure I wanted him to see where I lived. […]

After thinking of possible excuses, I finally said, “I live too far. I’ll bring my collection to school.” […]

I never got the chance to show Carl my collection. That weekend we moved to Five Points, and I never saw my friend again.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Carl (speaker), Mr. Lema
Page Number: 101
Explanation and Analysis:

I recalled the fire and placed my right hand over my shirt pocket. It was empty. Feeling a lump in my throat, I started thinking about Carl, my pennies, the house. Then, for a long time, I thought about my librito and what Mama said. I could see in my mind every word, every number, every rule, I had written in my note pad. I knew everything in it by heart. Mama was right. It was not all lost.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Mamá, Carl
Page Number: 112
Explanation and Analysis:
Moving Still Quotes

Every Thursday Mr. Milo gave us a math quiz, and the following day he arranged our desks according to how well we did on the test. The student with the highest score had the honor of sitting in the front seat, first row. Sharon Ito, the daughter of the Japanese sharecropper for whom we picked strawberries during the summer, and I alternated taking the first seat, although she sat in it more often than I did.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Mr. Milo, Sharon Ito
Page Number: 123
Explanation and Analysis:

“Mr. Sims offered me the janitorial job at Main Street School,” [Roberto] answered, grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s a year-round job,” Mama said, looking at Papa.

Being careful with his back, Papa stood up slowly and hugged her gently. He then turned to Roberto and said, “Education pays off, mi’jo. I am proud of you. Too bad your Mama and I didn’t have the opportunity to go to school.”

“But you’ve taught us a lot, Papa,” I answered. I had not seen Papa that happy for weeks.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Roberto (speaker), Papá (speaker), Mamá (speaker), Mr. Sims
Page Number: 130
Explanation and Analysis:

I sat at my desk and went over the recitation in my mind one last time: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” I checked the text in my note pad to make sure I had not forgotten anything. It was perfect. […]

Miss Ehlis […] was interrupted by a knock at the door. When she opened it, I could see Mr. Denevi, the principal, and a man standing behind him. The instant I saw the green uniform, I panicked. I wanted to run but my legs would not move.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Miss Ehlis
Page Number: 133-134
Explanation and Analysis:
No matches.