Free Lunch

Rex and Ford are sharing the last of the milk with chocolate syrup in it when Ford spills his cup. Rex feels frustrated, but understands that Ford is young and made a simple mistake. However, Luciana enters the room, grabs Ford, and is about to hit him when Rex stops her. She screams about the last of the milk and where money will come from to buy more, as she bangs on the counters and collapses. Rex attempts to comfort her and realizes she’s unwell: “I have to stop fighting her. I have to try to help her” (164).

In an effort to help his mother and repair their relationship, Rex apologizes to Luciana for being difficult; he wants to blame her, but refrains from doing so. Luciana is suspicious, but when she realizes Rex is sincere, she apologizes for their difficult life. She compares living in America as a poor person to “starving at an all-you-can-eat buffet” (168). She feels hopeless about the future, and Rex assures her that someone will give her a job. They hug, and Rex feels like it’s the beginning of something better.