Llovana Julian, Miguel Felix

English 1A – Spring 2018

Mr. Lewenstein

17 May 2018

 

 

Candido and America had been living in a canyon for a long time they didn’t have a comfy bed or a nice restroom they lived outside like savages. America had enough she was tired of living like that, So she told Candido enough was enough they needed a place to live. Candido agreed with her so that day they collected all their saved money and headed for Canoga Park in search of a new home that Candido had promised America back when she was still in Mexico. When they arrived America was so overwhelmed she felt like she was in a movie even the smallest things that others don’t pay attention too, because they're so used to it. What really grabbed America attention was a furniture store she walked by she was captured by and fantasized about living in there and how she would sleep on a new couch every night. The day went by and America and Candido had no luck finding an apartment so Candido promised America they would get a hotel for the night where she could take a real shower for the first time in a long time, plus she would get to sleep on a real bed. Towards the end of the night America was extremely tired, then Candido crossed path with this stranger who promised him a nice room for the night at a cheap price. Candido left to check out the room, America stayed behind. A couple of hours went by and Candido was nowhere to be found, America decided to go out and search for Candido she had no luck and returned where Candido left her. More time went by and suddenly America was woken up by Candido his face covered in blood! Candido had been mug some lowlife thugs stole all the money they had. Being broke once again they had no choice but to return to the bottom of the canyon.

 

In chapter four of the novel, we can see that America looks forward to the trip to Canoga Park. She doesn’t expect much as Candido and herself walk to Canoga Park. Once they arrive, America finds the Park to be more than just another ghetto. In her inner thoughts she finds the place: “After Tepoztlan, Cuernavaca even, after the Tijuana dump and Venice and the leafy dolorous hell of the canyon, this was a paradise.”(202). She had been used to the living like a wild animal that even Canoga Park looked mesmerizing. She looks at all the shops and people around her with eyes of hope. She felt like she was home, and imagined herself in a different position. After Candido was gone with the man to look for a place to stay, she finally felt that her life was finally going her way. As she was watched the people walking right past her, she felt tired and sleepy. She sat in a Parking lot and fell asleep. When she woke up she saw Candido bleeding, and asked him what had happened to him. Once he explain what had occurred to him, she felt angry and frustrated. She didn’t even look at Candido and she sure didn’t feel sympathy for him. All she wanted to do was run away from all of the horror that was happening to her. She spoke out by saying, “‘Maybe you can live like this, but not me.’”(233). She didn’t want to go through with her situation anymore, all she wanted was to have a better life.

In the article by Parker, R. D his main focus is on how homeless people are perceived. Parker states “ Most homeless people are seen in disgust, and are avoided as if they carried an infectious disease.” In my personal experience what this article explains for the most part seems to be true, people do look at homeless people as if they were some alien from another world. This article continues to explain that not much is done to help these poor people that are out on the streets. People just look away as if that was going to make them disappear. Some examples listed in this article that I think any city that with a homeless problem can benefit from. One would be for people to help out more And by help out more I mean give more for those that are really in need. Another example is for the community is to unite as a whole, if everyone works together that create a more positive outcome then everyone trying to do their own thing. In conclusion there is a lot of people out their who struggle on a daily just to get a glass of water, small things that we take for granted other see it as a big deal. In the end I think we should all learn to value other people and not be so selfish.

 

 

Boyle, T.C. The Tortilla Curtain. New York: Penguin. 1995. Print.

Parker, R. D., & Dykema, S. (2013). The reality of homeless mobility and implications for improving care. Journal of Community Health, 38(4), 685-9. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.collegeofthedesert.edu/10.1007/s10900-013-9664-2