Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

The following morning, Danny is standing outside his house in the cold, waiting for Marcus. When Marcus asks what the words “BIENVENIDOS A NUESTRA CASA” written on Danny’s doormat mean, Danny translates them as “Welcome to our house” (33) and explains that his grandparents are from Colombia. Surprised that Marcus doesn’t speak Spanish, Danny tries to talk to him about Puerto Rico. Marcus shuts the conversation down, telling him “to stop asking questions” (34).

At school, Stephen is hanging out by Marcus’s locker. When Marcus comes within earshot, Stephen starts talking to his gang about Charlie, questioning why he gets to start school later than everyone else. Stephen turns to Marcus and says, “So Gigantor [...] Where’s your brother?” (35) while mocking the hand gestures that Charlie sometimes makes. Marcus tries not to react, but Stephen, playing to the crowd that gathered, keeps agitating him, eventually calling Charlie a “re—” (36). Marcus, his anger boiling just below the surface, cuts him off with, “Don’t you dare say that word” (36). Danny steps in, telling Marcus to ignore Stephen. When Stephen refers to Puerto Rico as “another country” (36), Danny is unable to control himself and says, “Puerto Rico is part of the United States, you ignoramus!” (36).