Ysrael
"Ysrael" is set in the Dominican Republic. Yunior, the narrator, and his brother Rafa are spending the summer in the campo (the countryside) with their uncle while their mother works in the city. Throughout the story, Yunior, and the rest of the town, is fascinated with Ysrael. When Ysrael was a baby, a pig entered his house and ate the skin off of his face. Because of this, he always wears a mask. Rafa and Yunior decide one day to track down Ysrael. They soon find him flying a kite and they talk to him for a little while before Rafa breaks a glass bottle over his head. Ysrael falls to the ground and Rafa kicks him and removes his mask. Yunior cries out for Rafa to stop, but Rafa inspects Ysrael’s scarred face and then the boys leave.
Fiesta 1980
"Fiesta 1980" begins with Yunior explaining that his aunt and uncle have moved to the United States and the family is throwing a party to celebrate their arrival. As the family begins to leave for the party, Yunior's father becomes upset when he hears that Yunior ate dinner because Yunior always gets car sick and throws up. Yunior promises not to throw up, but once they begin the drive he soon throws up out of the car window. The family arrives at the aunt and uncle's house and are given a tour. The kids go to sit with the children while the parents cook and talk in other rooms of the house. Throughout the story, Yunior thinks about his father's mistress. The food is served and as Yunior is about to grab a plate of food, his father takes the plate away threatening to beat him if he eats anything before they drive home. Later, Yunior’s aunt asks him to come get ice with her and once they get into the hallway she gives him some food to eat. During this time, Yunior foreshadows his parent’s approaching separation and states that in several years his father will have left leaving his mother alone once more. The story ends with the family driving home in the dark, his parents sitting rigidly in their seats. Yunior watches his family and then calls out to his mom because he is about to be sick.
Aurora
"Aurora" is told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator who thinks about his on-and-off-again relationship with Aurora. The narrator and his roommate, Cut, reveal that they are drug dealers when they go to receive weed from their supplier. The narrator relates that Aurora frequently visits whenever the narrator and Cut get their new shipment of drugs. When Aurora arrives, the narrator reveals that the scratches she had left on his arms are almost healed. The narrator reveals that Aurora has recently been released from juvie and that she has a drug problem. He also makes it clear that he has physically abused her in the past. Despite this, the narrator expresses a twisted love for Aurora and hopes that she will turn away from her addiction. At the end of the story, the narrator remembers when Aurora was recently released from juvie. The narrator had thought about breaking up with her, but he was too excited when he could finally see her again and he told Cut that he loved her. When Aurora gets out, she tells the narrator that she fantasized about an ideal world with him. The narrator ominously ends the story by recounting that he hit her head, causing her ear to bleed.
Aguantando
"Aguantando" is from Yunior's perspective from when he is about nine years old, and it is set in the Dominican Republic. It is about his father's absence from Yunior and Rafa's life after he moved to the United States when Yunior was four years old. Their family is quite poor, and Yunior's mother works long hours at the chocolate factory to provide for her two kids. Yunior's mother receives a letter from his father stating that he is returning to the Dominican Republic in order to bring all of them back to the United States. Yunior recalls a time when he was younger when his mother received a similar letter promising the father's return. Yunior' s mother was overwhelmed with excitement, told all of her friends, and planned a welcome party. When the day arrived and Yunior's father did not return home, Yunior' s mother was heartbroken and changed by the experience. She leaves for about a month and once she returns she spends a day with Rafa and Yunior.
Drown
"Drown" is set when Yunior is fresh out of high school, when he is living alone with his mother. She tells him at the beginning of the story that Beto, Yunior's old friend, is back in town. Yunior explains his routine with his mother as they live together. Sometimes, she asks Yunior to take her to the mall, but before going, the pair walk through the house, checking each window to make sure it is locked. Once at the mall, Yunior thinks back on his shoplifting days and describes how he and Beto used to rob various stores in the mall. Yunior looks for Beto at Beto’s house and at the pool, but is unable to find him. When Yunior returns home, he finds his mother on the phone with his father who lives with another woman in Florida. Yunior reveals to the reader that he had a sexual encounter with Beto before he left for college.
Boyfriend
In "Boyfriend," the narrator explains that when he smokes marijuana he sleepwalks. On one of these ventures, the narrator wakes up in the hallway and hears a fight happening on the floor below him between a pair of lovers. It culminates in a breakup. This altercation reminds the narrator of his past lover, Loretta. During the following days, the narrator listens from his apartment as the girlfriend processes the breakup. The narrator listens as the boyfriend comes over to retrieve his things and they continue to fight, comparing their fights to his fights with Loretta. Eventually, the narrator asks out the girlfriend and she comes over to his apartment. They don't see each other again. One day the narrator sees the girlfriend and the girlfriend has cut her hair short. The narrator tells her that he likes her hair and that the new cut makes her look fierce. The girlfriend tells the narrator that that was what she intended.
Edison, New Jersey
"Edison, New Jersey" begins with the narrator introducing his work friend, Wayne, and describing their traditional work days delivering and building pool tables. On their drives while working the two discuss their love life. It is apparent that Wayne is cheating on his wife and that the narrator has recently broken up with a once serious girlfriend. On one delivery, the two characters encounter a woman who is at her boss's house where one of the tables is to be delivered. The narrator notices her beauty and gives her a ride back to her house in Washington Heights. At the end of the tale, the narrator is looking at a map and trying the guess where they will be delivering to tomorrow. The speaker explains that he is very frequently correct, but today he feels no magic. He chooses Edison, New Jersey.
How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie
"How to Date" is told in an instructional, second-person voice. The narrator is instructing an unknown reader how to date girls of different races. His authoritative tone creates a facade of confidence. Despite this manner of storytelling, it is clear that the narrator has not had good luck with women. As the narrator prepares for his date, he hides pictures, mementos, and items that relate to his race and socioeconomic status. The speaker describes how one should behave on a date based on the woman’s race and depicts different events and reactions. At the end of the narrative, the speaker is alone in his house returning the hidden items to their original place.
No Face
"No Face" is narrated from Ysrael's point of view. He explains that he has been outcasted from his community, but knows a few people who treat him respectably. The people call Ysrael "No Face," and joke that he is some kind of monster. He is picked on and is frequently reminded of the event that caused him to wear his mask. As a baby, he was attacked by a pig that ate the skin on his face leaving horrible scars. The boy has terrifying dreams about the event, but faces his town's hostility with bravery and a determination to fight evil.
Negocios
"Negocios" is about Yunior's childhood, in particular his relationship with his father, Ramon. Yunior’s papi was known to be cheating on his mother, but his father strove to maintain relations because of his mother’s family wealth. He works odd jobs in the United States with the hope of acquiring money and having his family join him in the US. Ramon is continuously being taken advantage of and scammed. He eventually attempts to find a wife in the United States, and he meets a woman named Nilda who he marries and starts a family with while he is still married to Yunior's mother. As Ramon gained a routine, he acquired more money and connections until he was eventually able to slip away from his life with Nilda and go get his family in the Dominican Republic and bring them to the United States. In the future, Yunior goes to visit Nilda and she tells him about the night Ramon left her and shattered her life.
