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Nilda hopped in beside him. They opened the windows.
    â€œWow! Man, look at all this shiny silver.”
    â€œThat’s called chrome,” said Paul.
    â€œWell, it’s really beautiful. Let’s turn on the radio.”
    â€œOkay.” Paul turned a knob and waited. Nothing happened. He then turned a few more buttons and waited. Nothing happened.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Paul?”
    â€œI don’t know. I guess Jimmy knows how to do it a special way.”
    â€œI guess so,” said Nilda. She was excited sitting there in the great big new car. She had been for a car ride twice, but that wasin old cars. She remembered that once Jacinto the grocer had taken some of the neighborhood kids to Coney Island in his old car. Another time a friend of her stepfather had taken her family to a faraway place called Long Island. It was so crowded and hot during the ride that she had been glad to get out.
    â€œI think you have to start the car, maybe,” said Paul, “before you can turn on the radio, and we better not do that.”
    â€œLet’s just sit here,” said Nilda. “This is real cool. Boy, I’ll bet you Jimmy is rich, huh, Paul? He got all them new clothes all the time and everything. I wonder where he lives.”
    â€œI don’t know, but it must be real nice.”
    â€œHey, man!” A group of kids came over. “What’s happening, baby?”
    â€œThis is my brother Jimmy’s car, man.”
    â€œNo shit!” said one of the boys sitting on the fender.
    â€œHey, man, get off!” said Paul. “Coño, don’t sit on the car. Can’t you see it’s new?”
    Another boy said, “You bullshitting us, Paul. This ain’t your brother’s car.”
    â€œHe’s not bullshitting. This is our brother Jimmy’s car and he’s right upstairs in my house. He’s coming down any minute. He told us to mind it and gave us a quarter.”
    By this time there was a larger group of kids standing around the car looking at the brand-new shiny vehicle.
    â€œWow, this is a really nice car,” said a young girl Nilda recognized. “Can I sit inside with you?”
    â€œNo, I can’t do that,” said Nilda emphatically. “Besides, I’m getting paid to mind it.”
    â€œHow much?”
    â€œA whole quarter.”
    â€œNilda, stop telling everybody we got money, stupid,” said Paul, nudging Nilda.
    â€œLet me see it,” said one of the boys.
    â€œI don’t have to show it to you, man. I got the money.”
    â€œI don’t believe you.”
    â€œShow him, Paul, go on.” Paul gave Nilda a look of exasperation, reached in his pocket and held the shiny coin up. “See!” said Nilda.
    â€œI didn’t see,” said a boy in back.
    â€œDon’t jive me. I already showed you it and I’m not gonna show it again.”
    â€œLet me in,” they heard a voice say. It was Frankie. Paul opened the back door.
    â€œI want to sit in front, Nilda. Move to the back.”
    â€œI will not, Frankie. I was here first and I’m minding the car for Jimmy.”
    â€œWho said?”
    â€œIt’s true, Frankie,” said Paul. “Now leave her alone and sit in back.” He looked at Frankie, exercising his authority as the older of the two boys. Frankie slipped in back, leaning against Nilda with his elbow.
    â€œOuch!” she said. “Don’t give him one penny of our quarter, Paul.”
    â€œWhat quarter?” asked Frankie.
    Oh boy, thought Nilda, I can’t do anything right sometimes.
    â€œPaul, what quarter?”
    â€œJimmy gave Nilda and me a quarter to mind the car for him.”
    â€œYou gonna split it with me, too!”
    â€œJimmy didn’t say nothing about that.”
    â€œAw, man, come on,” Frankie went on arguing.
    Nilda looked up and saw her mother, Victor and Jimmy all coming toward the car. Jimmy had on