3/4/13 anne silveira

3/4/13                                                                     Mexican White Boy Pages 95-155

Dear Danny,

            I am about half way into the novel about your adventure to find your father, and so far I am really enjoying it. Over the course of my reading experience, I notice that you write letters to your father. It pleases me to see that you are writing to him, because keeping in touch with a close family member, no matter what the circumstances, is extremely important in my mind. I appreciate your explanations about how your life is going so that your father can connect with you, yet I feel like the letters you write are about how you want your life to be going, not how it is. For example, you tell your father, “[I] made this travelling San Diego all-star team. It’s totally prestigious…I, of course pitch” (Peña 135). Events like this do not occur in your life in the novel, so it puzzles me as to what these letters are really pertaining to. The only logical reason that I can think of is that they are foreshadowing events to come. Maybe it is as if these letters are written in the future to your father about your life at that point. Is this true? If not, and you are just writing lies to your father, you should start to write what’s really happening in your life because your father will always be proud of you and you don't want him to think of you as someone you're not.

            I understand your desire to be close to your father because he is the one man you love. Even if he makes some inappropriate decisions, he is still your father, and it is common in the Mexican culture to stay in touch. When you talk about your father a hawk often comes up, and if you see a hawk you just stare up at it. Now, I know that your father has a love for these beautiful creatures, and he always points them out to you, but what is the real meaning behind the hawk in your mind? You say, “[I] pretend it’s been sent all the way from Mexico by [my] dad. To look after [me]. And then it goes back to Mexico to report what it sees” (Peña 113). Does seeing a hawk only provide you with a way to connect with your dad? Or is a hawk in a memory that makes you happy? Does it remind you of your father and his qualities of strength and courage?

            Danny, not to pick on you, but I read that when you become nervous you dig your nails into your arm. You should try and break this habit because it isn’t healthy, and it is not safe. After breaking your skin too often, you can seriously injure yourself, which I don’t want for you. I realize that you do this due to nerves, but I am curious as to how this habit started, and why you continue it, even when your good friends tell you to stop?

             Your decision to become friendly with Uno also fascinates me. Most people in this world won’t even consider becoming friends with a person who purposely injures them. Then there is you, Danny Lopez. You completely oppose how I view the world based on your decision, which is great. I assume that most people never get over their anger because they are human, and humans hold grudges. Yet you show me what it truly means to forgive and forget, making you an exceptional human, who does the right thing.  To be honest, after Uno hurt you, I stuck with the majority and predicted that you wouldn’t willingly talk to him, let alone become his friend, but I guess I am wrong. Your decision to go against my views of the world and forgive Uno completely changes that way that I look at forgiving people. I’d still like to know, why did you forgive Uno and become friends with him, anyway?

            Even though your decision shocks me, I am glad that you make it. Uno seems to be a really good friend who has brought you out of your shell. I notice that because of the anger he instills in you, you are able to bring yourself to gain some revenge. Even though revenge isn’t the answer, I am glad that you follow that path because it makes you realize that you can defend yourself. The fact that you throw your hardest fastball into his glove shows that there is a fire inside of you that just needs to be lit, which is a phenomenal quality of yours. Something I find ironic about your revenge is that at that moment you receive a friend when most people would gain an enemy. When Uno says, “I deserved that shit. Go ‘head with another one if you want to” (Peña 112), he admits his wrong doing. The fact that he is there with you, playing baseball, realizes what he has done wrong, and is willing to let you take your anger out on him shows he is really trying to be a friend.

            When you are at the train track at two o’clock in the morning, Uno is there for you once again. He lets you in on his secret karma game, and he gives you some amazing insight, just as any friend does. I love when he says, “I think how I stood under this bridge and held onto this pole and took all that train power into my body. And then it ain’t really me that’s fightin’ no more. It’s the power of the train coming outta my body. And ain’t nobody gonna mess with that kind of power” (Peña 147).  I hope that you take this to heart because I know I do. It is as if he is saying that the strength you have comes from within, after you acquire it from prior experiences, and once you harness this strength you can do anything. This applies to you because as you adapt to living with your family, you have become stronger, bolder, and more determined, which I admire.

            An instance when I observe you being a excellent friend is at the drug-store. You attempt to repay Uno for the mistakes that you make while pitching, that cause him to lose money, which gives me the sense that you truly feel awful. But when Uno refuses to take the money and says, “I’d make the same bet if I could so it all over. You just had bad karma that night” (Peña 141), he obviously believes in you, especially because he always says you’re going places. The non-reproachful relationship that you have is great and resembles true friendship.

            The way that you and Uno support each other is fantastic, so I recommend maintaining this friendship. Personally, I hold friendship as something that keeps you going in this crazy world, so don’t let it go because it will do wonders for you. Do you feel any different now that you and Uno are hanging out?

            Danny, it is clear that you love baseball and that you are a fantastic player, like many Mexicans. Your determination, the way that you practice every day, and how you approach your training, is incredible because you push yourself to the limit so that you can reach your goals. I love your mentality that, “If you think you’re strong physically, you’ll probably be stronger mentally” (Peña 107-108). This reminds me of self confidence because if you are confident in yourself you will be strong in everything that you do. You are truly an inspiration to all kids in the aspect of determination because even when you are told no, you keep going. Oh! By the way, congratulations on having a scout looking into you, you should be proud.

            The only thing that I find strange about your amazing ability is that you are using it to hustle people out of the little money that they have. Based on my knowledge, Uno concocted a hustling plan where he will convince someone to try and get a hit against you. You will let him hit a few, by throwing at an average speed. Uno will then make a bet that the batter can’t hit one before he strikes out. Then you will turn it up and strike him out easily. I can see how this is an okay plan, but why are you doing this? You can be hurt or you can find yourself in some unwanted trouble. I’m aware that Uno asks you to because he needs the money to go live with his dad, and you need the money to try and find your dad, but is hustling the best way to “earn” the money? No matter what your choice is, I want to say, whatever you do don’t get nervous when you pitch or it will throw you off. Uno says, “’Member what I said down at the tracks? ‘Bout the power of the train? It’s in here now, D…It ain’t about you no more… It’s about your right arm, man. Your talent” (Peña 151). Take this into account every time you are about to pitch. Clear your mind, pitch like you know how to, and never doubt yourself.

            Personally, I think that it is unjust for you and Uno to be doing this, but I know that this is how the world works. There are millions of hustlers, who consider this “trade”, as some may call it, to be a fantastic way to earn money, so you are not alone. The way that you are hustling people reminds me of a novel I once read called Side Hustle by Lavender Spice and Johnny Rose. It is about four people who all wind up in their own mess after hustling numerous people and lying to many others. Even though they have some success, ultimately, they all fail in the end. I don’t want you to fail to, so think about what you are doing before you get in to deep.

            Just so you know I admire you Danny. Your sense of family, friends, and a love for baseball is remarkable. It comes from your Mexican culture, so you aren’t an outsider after all, you have actually been shaped by your culture  You are a greater person than you think, no matter what the color of your skin. So stay positive and work on finding your father just don’t get into too much trouble along the way. I know you can do it.

Sincerely,

Anne Silveira

P.S. Work on learning Spanish and build up the courage so you can actually talk to Liberty.