"When I Was Puerto Rican" Post 1

   
       As I was reading my book club book,  "When I Was Puerto Rican", I came across a quote that stood out to me towards the beginning of the book. The quote was said by the author, Esmeralda Santiago, in regards to her father. The quote said, "He turned sad eyes on me, kneeled, and gave me a hug. As he grieved on my shoulder, I wanted nothing more than for Papi to go on losing people he loved so that he'd always turn to me, so that I alone could bring him comfort". Right before the quote Papi told Negi, which is Esmeralda's nickname, that she could not meet her older sister from another mother because they were moving to New York.

        The first thing that I like about this quote is that the father showed his sadness. Most fathers try to hide their sadness in front of their children so they would think they are strong. So when I read about a father who stopped acting and showed his daughter that he was sad, I thought it was powerful because it shows that he is strong emotionally and not just physically. The second thing I like about this quote is what Negi thinks about as her father grieves over her shoulder. Instead of feeling sorry her father, who had "lost" someone he loved, she wished he lost more people that he loved. She wished he would feel bad for her pleasure, which is selfish. You don't see many people, especially children, who want to see their fathers sad, it was a new perspective. I also don't think it was super bad that she thought that, all she really wanted was for her father to turn to her for comfort which he only did when he was sad. She just wanted to be helpful and special to her father and this was the way that she thought she could help and show she was special.