Articoli correlati a Help Wanted: Stories
Sinossi
With real wit and heart, Gary Soto takes readers into the lives of young people in ten funny, heartbreaking tales.
Meet Carolina, who writes to Miss Manners for help not just with etiquette but with bigger messes in her life; Javier, who knows the stories his friend Veronica tells him are lies, but can't find a way to prove it--and many other kids, each caught up in the difficulties of figuring out what it means to be alive.
Le informazioni nella sezione "Riassunto" possono far riferimento a edizioni diverse di questo titolo.
Informazioni sugli autori
GARY SOTO's first book for young readers, Baseball in April and Other Stories, won the California Library Association's Beatty Award and was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. He has since published many novels, short stories, plays, and poetry collections for adults and young people. He lives in Berkeley, California.
GARY SOTO's first book for young readers, Baseball in April and Other Stories, won the California Library Association's Beatty Award and was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. He has since published many novels, short stories, plays, and poetry collections for adults and young people. He lives in Berkeley, California.
Estratto. © Ristampato con autorizzazione. Tutti i diritti riservati.
Paintball in the Wild
Michael Ortiz wiped the steam from his eyeglasses and turned off the iron. He held up the top of his military uniform. The creases in front were sharp. He felt pleased with himself, a cadet in seventh grade and with the rank of corporal. He had been in cadets only since the beginning of school and by October he already had two stripes, plus three ribbons for drill, hall patrol, and conduct.
The conduct one was special because he used to be moody before he joined cadets. In sixth grade he sat through all his classes with his chin in his hand, his eyes half closed, and a yawn from boredom building up at the back of his throat. His grades were Cs and Ds. Sometimes he got into fights, but he usually thought they were just too much trouble.
Now he was a year older. His body said so. He was two inches taller.
"Sharp," he said to himself. The hot iron answered back with a sigh and a burst of steam.
He hung the shirt over his pants, already ironed, and pinned his ribbons back onto his uniform. He undid them when he noticed they were a little crooked over his shirt pocket. He petted the ribbons. He fogged the bars with his breath and polished them with a Kleenex, careful not to undo the creases on the front of his shirt.
When he heard his mother holler from the kitchen, he turned away from his uniform. "¡Miguel! ¡Miguel, telé-f-onooooo! ¡Apúrate! ¡Ya! Tenemos que comer."
Michael, born Luis Miguel, wished that his mom could speak English, but she was in her own world, a world that remained rooted in Mexico. He loved her deeply and would never tell his mother to please learn English like his father had. His father was so proud that he would stop at telephone poles just to read posters aloud in an accented mutter.
"Voy, Mami," Michael answered back.
He hurried out of his bedroom and took the phone from his mother. His nose twitched when he smelled breakfast-papas and huevos con weenies. The little weenies were marching in the fry pan. Breakfast was almost ready.
"Hey," Miguel said. It was Trung, his classmate from Jackson Junior High and a corporal like himself but with one more ribbon than him-a bivouac ribbon because his platoon got to go camping and learn how to use a compass. Miguel made no bones that he was jealous of that extra ribbon on Trung's shirt. He had repeatedly told his friend that he would have gone on the weekend bivouac except his mother didn't like him staying at anyone else's house. When he'd tried to explain that they were camping outdoors, she still remained firm. That evening he pouted in his room with the lights out. Not even the sight of his uniform could perk him up.
"You gonna be ready?" Trung asked.
They were going to a paintball war in the foothills outside Fresno. He was going to tell their teacher, Mr. Mitchell, the cadet commander at school. Maybe this outing would count as a bivouac.
"Nine-thirty," Michael said. His eyes looked up at the clock over the refrigerator. "You gonna lend me the stuff?"
The stuff was a gun and goggles.
"Yeah, like I said." Trung reminded Michael that it cost twenty-five dollars, plus there were paintballs you had to buy. At least a thousand rounds were needed for the day. He also reminded him to bring drinking water.
"I got water," Miguel answered. Earlier in the week he had biked across town to an army surplus store and bought an authentic canteen. He liked that it was dented and imagined that bullets had ricocheted off its side. "And I got the money." A rich uncle from Los Angeles had sent him fifty dollars for his birthday.
Michael hung up the telephone. He stared at the frying pan, then at his mother, who asked, "¿Dos huevos?"
He held up two fingers, then saluted his mom-he just couldn't help himself. He was a military boy.
Michael sat in the back of Trung's father's truck, with his knees up to his chin. Although it was a sunny morning, he was cold in the whipping wind. He was wearing only a flannel shirt, flecked with paint that he figured would work as camouflage. His tennis shoes were also flecked with paint.
He turned to Trung. "It's cold."
"You should have brought a jacket," his friend answered. The collar of his own jacket was flapping like a sail.
"You didn't tell me." But Michael knew that was a poor defense. A cadet, he knew, should be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions. He was glad that he had brought water. He patted his canteen and touched the front pockets of his pants, where he had stashed candy bars and pumpkin seeds. He closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around his chest, and rode out the cold.
A half hour later the back window slid open when the truck pulled off Highway 41. Trung's brother, Truc, and his friend Tran, were in the cab, each of them cradling the gun barrel with one hand and fingering the trigger set on safety with the other. Truc said something in Vietnamese to Trung. Their father said something, too, and it sounded like he was angry.
"What did your father say?" Michael asked. They were approaching the paintball war ground called No Man's Land.
"He said be careful."
To Michael it sounded like a lot of words just to say be careful. In Spanish it was simply cuídate.
When the truck stopped, the two boys gathered their equipment and jumped out of the back, landing like ninjas. Michael felt ready for combat and was already searching the trees for snipers.
"Thanks, sir," he called to Trung's father, who was going fishing while the four boys went to war. Bright fishing lures hung from his vest like war medals.
Trung's father said something long and maybe angry at Michael. He grinned sternly and showed his ruined teeth. The truck pulled away, stirring up dust over the gravel road. The taillights flashed like gunfire when he braked at the end of the road. Then the truck turned left and was gone.
"What did your dad say?" Michael asked.
"He said that his father died in the war." Trung had shouldered his equipment.
It was too late to say that he was sorry. He didn't know that Trung's grandfather had been in the Vietnam War. He saw Trung in a new light. Maybe Trung deserved that bivouac ribbon after all on account of his grandfather getting killed. Michael's own grandfather had gotten his foot crushed by a forklift, but that didn't count as much.
"Let's go," Trung said, with his hand already in his pocket, searching for the twenty-five-dollar admission. They approached the front office. A woman with a tattoo of a butterfly on her throat sold them tickets and six cartridges that held the paintballs.
"How about candies?" she asked. The butterfly on her throat seemed to flap its wings when she spoke. Her breath was anything but candy. It smelled sour.
Michael knew that the candies were overpriced. And he already had some candy in his pocket, enough to give his blood a good blast of energy. But he wanted to be friendly and said, "Okay." He bought a Milky Way.
Their hands were stamped and the four boys entered the gated area, where they walked down a dusty trail. At the end of the trail they came across three white men wearing T-shirts that said VIETNAM VETS. They were sitting on top of a picnic table, loading their guns. The men locked hard stares on the four boys.
Copyright © 2005 by Gary Soto
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission to make copies of any part
of the work should be mailed to the following address:
Permissions Department, Harcourt, Inc.,
6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
Michael Ortiz wiped the steam from his eyeglasses and turned off the iron. He held up the top of his military uniform. The creases in front were sharp. He felt pleased with himself, a cadet in seventh grade and with the rank of corporal. He had been in cadets only since the beginning of school and by October he already had two stripes, plus three ribbons for drill, hall patrol, and conduct.
The conduct one was special because he used to be moody before he joined cadets. In sixth grade he sat through all his classes with his chin in his hand, his eyes half closed, and a yawn from boredom building up at the back of his throat. His grades were Cs and Ds. Sometimes he got into fights, but he usually thought they were just too much trouble.
Now he was a year older. His body said so. He was two inches taller.
"Sharp," he said to himself. The hot iron answered back with a sigh and a burst of steam.
He hung the shirt over his pants, already ironed, and pinned his ribbons back onto his uniform. He undid them when he noticed they were a little crooked over his shirt pocket. He petted the ribbons. He fogged the bars with his breath and polished them with a Kleenex, careful not to undo the creases on the front of his shirt.
When he heard his mother holler from the kitchen, he turned away from his uniform. "¡Miguel! ¡Miguel, telé-f-onooooo! ¡Apúrate! ¡Ya! Tenemos que comer."
Michael, born Luis Miguel, wished that his mom could speak English, but she was in her own world, a world that remained rooted in Mexico. He loved her deeply and would never tell his mother to please learn English like his father had. His father was so proud that he would stop at telephone poles just to read posters aloud in an accented mutter.
"Voy, Mami," Michael answered back.
He hurried out of his bedroom and took the phone from his mother. His nose twitched when he smelled breakfast-papas and huevos con weenies. The little weenies were marching in the fry pan. Breakfast was almost ready.
"Hey," Miguel said. It was Trung, his classmate from Jackson Junior High and a corporal like himself but with one more ribbon than him-a bivouac ribbon because his platoon got to go camping and learn how to use a compass. Miguel made no bones that he was jealous of that extra ribbon on Trung's shirt. He had repeatedly told his friend that he would have gone on the weekend bivouac except his mother didn't like him staying at anyone else's house. When he'd tried to explain that they were camping outdoors, she still remained firm. That evening he pouted in his room with the lights out. Not even the sight of his uniform could perk him up.
"You gonna be ready?" Trung asked.
They were going to a paintball war in the foothills outside Fresno. He was going to tell their teacher, Mr. Mitchell, the cadet commander at school. Maybe this outing would count as a bivouac.
"Nine-thirty," Michael said. His eyes looked up at the clock over the refrigerator. "You gonna lend me the stuff?"
The stuff was a gun and goggles.
"Yeah, like I said." Trung reminded Michael that it cost twenty-five dollars, plus there were paintballs you had to buy. At least a thousand rounds were needed for the day. He also reminded him to bring drinking water.
"I got water," Miguel answered. Earlier in the week he had biked across town to an army surplus store and bought an authentic canteen. He liked that it was dented and imagined that bullets had ricocheted off its side. "And I got the money." A rich uncle from Los Angeles had sent him fifty dollars for his birthday.
Michael hung up the telephone. He stared at the frying pan, then at his mother, who asked, "¿Dos huevos?"
He held up two fingers, then saluted his mom-he just couldn't help himself. He was a military boy.
Michael sat in the back of Trung's father's truck, with his knees up to his chin. Although it was a sunny morning, he was cold in the whipping wind. He was wearing only a flannel shirt, flecked with paint that he figured would work as camouflage. His tennis shoes were also flecked with paint.
He turned to Trung. "It's cold."
"You should have brought a jacket," his friend answered. The collar of his own jacket was flapping like a sail.
"You didn't tell me." But Michael knew that was a poor defense. A cadet, he knew, should be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions. He was glad that he had brought water. He patted his canteen and touched the front pockets of his pants, where he had stashed candy bars and pumpkin seeds. He closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around his chest, and rode out the cold.
A half hour later the back window slid open when the truck pulled off Highway 41. Trung's brother, Truc, and his friend Tran, were in the cab, each of them cradling the gun barrel with one hand and fingering the trigger set on safety with the other. Truc said something in Vietnamese to Trung. Their father said something, too, and it sounded like he was angry.
"What did your father say?" Michael asked. They were approaching the paintball war ground called No Man's Land.
"He said be careful."
To Michael it sounded like a lot of words just to say be careful. In Spanish it was simply cuídate.
When the truck stopped, the two boys gathered their equipment and jumped out of the back, landing like ninjas. Michael felt ready for combat and was already searching the trees for snipers.
"Thanks, sir," he called to Trung's father, who was going fishing while the four boys went to war. Bright fishing lures hung from his vest like war medals.
Trung's father said something long and maybe angry at Michael. He grinned sternly and showed his ruined teeth. The truck pulled away, stirring up dust over the gravel road. The taillights flashed like gunfire when he braked at the end of the road. Then the truck turned left and was gone.
"What did your dad say?" Michael asked.
"He said that his father died in the war." Trung had shouldered his equipment.
It was too late to say that he was sorry. He didn't know that Trung's grandfather had been in the Vietnam War. He saw Trung in a new light. Maybe Trung deserved that bivouac ribbon after all on account of his grandfather getting killed. Michael's own grandfather had gotten his foot crushed by a forklift, but that didn't count as much.
"Let's go," Trung said, with his hand already in his pocket, searching for the twenty-five-dollar admission. They approached the front office. A woman with a tattoo of a butterfly on her throat sold them tickets and six cartridges that held the paintballs.
"How about candies?" she asked. The butterfly on her throat seemed to flap its wings when she spoke. Her breath was anything but candy. It smelled sour.
Michael knew that the candies were overpriced. And he already had some candy in his pocket, enough to give his blood a good blast of energy. But he wanted to be friendly and said, "Okay." He bought a Milky Way.
Their hands were stamped and the four boys entered the gated area, where they walked down a dusty trail. At the end of the trail they came across three white men wearing T-shirts that said VIETNAM VETS. They were sitting on top of a picnic table, loading their guns. The men locked hard stares on the four boys.
Copyright © 2005 by Gary Soto
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission to make copies of any part
of the work should be mailed to the following address:
Permissions Department, Harcourt, Inc.,
6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
Le informazioni nella sezione "Su questo libro" possono far riferimento a edizioni diverse di questo titolo.
Risultati della ricerca per Help Wanted: Stories
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted: Stories
Da: More Than Words, Waltham, MA, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Condizione: Good. A sound copy with only light wear. Overall a solid copy at a great price! Codice articolo BOS-P-10i-01587
Compra usato
EUR 2,17
Spedizione EUR 3,55
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted
Editore:
Cengage Learning, Inc, 2007
ISBN 10: 0152056637
ISBN 13: 9780152056636
Antico o usato
Paperback
Da: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Paperback. Condizione: Fair. With real wit and heart, Gary Soto takes readers into the lives of young people in ten funny, heartbreaking tales. Meet Carolina, who writes to Miss Manners for help not just with etiquette but with bigger messes in her life; Javier, who knows the stories his friend Veronica tells him are lies, but can't find a way to prove it--and many other kids, each caught up in the difficulties of figuring out what it means to be alive. From a first kiss to a family crisis, these ten stories capture the awkward, funny, and heartbreaking moments that define teenage life. Coming-of-Age Stories: Whether it's a first kiss on the same night your grandmother gets arrested or navigating a friendship built on lies, these characters are figuring it all out one mistake at a time. Family Relationships: A quiet father who becomes an obsessive Raiders fan to connect with his son, a daughter who thinks she hears her mother's ghost, and a girl who wishes she belonged to any family but her own. Slice of Life Fiction: From paintball battles and junior high dances to disastrous first jobs, Soto finds the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of teenage life in California's Central Valley. Finding Your Place: For two best friends who feel like teenage "chimps," finding where you belong is the toughest, and most important, challenge of all. Codice articolo 00104457169
Compra usato
EUR 5,81
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted
Editore:
Cengage Learning, Inc, 2007
ISBN 10: 0152056637
ISBN 13: 9780152056636
Antico o usato
Paperback
Da: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. With real wit and heart, Gary Soto takes readers into the lives of young people in ten funny, heartbreaking tales. Meet Carolina, who writes to Miss Manners for help not just with etiquette but with bigger messes in her life; Javier, who knows the stories his friend Veronica tells him are lies, but can't find a way to prove it--and many other kids, each caught up in the difficulties of figuring out what it means to be alive. From a first kiss to a family crisis, these ten stories capture the awkward, funny, and heartbreaking moments that define teenage life. Coming-of-Age Stories: Whether it's a first kiss on the same night your grandmother gets arrested or navigating a friendship built on lies, these characters are figuring it all out one mistake at a time. Family Relationships: A quiet father who becomes an obsessive Raiders fan to connect with his son, a daughter who thinks she hears her mother's ghost, and a girl who wishes she belonged to any family but her own. Slice of Life Fiction: From paintball battles and junior high dances to disastrous first jobs, Soto finds the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of teenage life in California's Central Valley. Finding Your Place: For two best friends who feel like teenage "chimps," finding where you belong is the toughest, and most important, challenge of all. Codice articolo 00110282727
Compra usato
EUR 5,81
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted
Editore:
Cengage Learning, Inc, 2007
ISBN 10: 0152056637
ISBN 13: 9780152056636
Antico o usato
Paperback
Da: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Paperback. Condizione: Good. With real wit and heart, Gary Soto takes readers into the lives of young people in ten funny, heartbreaking tales. Meet Carolina, who writes to Miss Manners for help not just with etiquette but with bigger messes in her life; Javier, who knows the stories his friend Veronica tells him are lies, but can't find a way to prove it--and many other kids, each caught up in the difficulties of figuring out what it means to be alive. From a first kiss to a family crisis, these ten stories capture the awkward, funny, and heartbreaking moments that define teenage life. Coming-of-Age Stories: Whether it's a first kiss on the same night your grandmother gets arrested or navigating a friendship built on lies, these characters are figuring it all out one mistake at a time. Family Relationships: A quiet father who becomes an obsessive Raiders fan to connect with his son, a daughter who thinks she hears her mother's ghost, and a girl who wishes she belonged to any family but her own. Slice of Life Fiction: From paintball battles and junior high dances to disastrous first jobs, Soto finds the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of teenage life in California's Central Valley. Finding Your Place: For two best friends who feel like teenage "chimps," finding where you belong is the toughest, and most important, challenge of all. Codice articolo 00071950665
Compra usato
EUR 5,81
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 2 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted: Stories
Da: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
paperback. Condizione: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Codice articolo S_469727769
Compra usato
EUR 2,67
Spedizione EUR 3,33
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted: Stories
Da: HPB-Emerald, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
paperback. Condizione: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Codice articolo S_474926482
Compra usato
EUR 2,67
Spedizione EUR 3,33
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted : Stories
Editore:
HarperCollins Publishers, 2007
ISBN 10: 0152056637
ISBN 13: 9780152056636
Antico o usato
Brossura
Da: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Condizione: Good. Reprint. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Codice articolo 307251-75
Compra usato
EUR 6,54
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted : Stories
Editore:
HarperCollins Publishers, 2007
ISBN 10: 0152056637
ISBN 13: 9780152056636
Antico o usato
Brossura
Da: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Condizione: Good. Reprint. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Codice articolo 307250-6
Compra usato
EUR 6,54
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted : Stories
Editore:
HarperCollins Publishers, 2007
ISBN 10: 0152056637
ISBN 13: 9780152056636
Antico o usato
Brossura
Da: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Condizione: Good. Reprint. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Codice articolo 307250-6
Compra usato
EUR 6,54
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili
Foto dell'editore
Help Wanted: Stories
Da: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Valutazione del venditore 5 su 5 stelle
Paperback. Condizione: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Codice articolo G0152056637I3N00
Compra usato
EUR 6,83
Spedizione gratuita
Spedito in U.S.A.
Spedito in U.S.A.
Quantità: 1 disponibili