The First Rule of Punk

On Saturday, Malú goes to Calaca. She encounters Joe, who is working behind the counter (Malú, at the beginning of this chapter, still doesn’t know his name). Malú learns that Joe’s parents own Calaca. Lola Beltrán comes on the stereo as the two talk. Malú has coffee and a snack then regards the coffee shop’s “[w]all of fame,” as it’s called by Joe’s mother (104). The wall is dedicated to “Mexican and Mexican-American bands and singers” the Hidalgos are fond of. Among the collection of Mexican and Mexican American singers and bands is Morrissey, the lead singer of the English band The Smiths. Morrissey is white, but Mrs. Hidalgo offers that he’s “an honorary Mexican because he’s so popular in Mexico” (105). She also points out the Mexican American punk band The Zeros, also known as “the Mexican Ramones” (105). Mrs. Hidalgo offers that the next time Malú comes in, she’ll play some of the bands from the wall of fame for Malú.

Malú has breakfast with her mom next the day. She tells her mom about the impending family tree project for her Spanish class, and her mom offers to help. Malú needs at least three generations of family, including herself. The reader learns that Malú’s grandfather on her mom’s side came to California in 1936 as part of the Bracero Program:

‘During World War II, when many American men had either gone to war or were working in industries that produced equipment for the war, there was a shortage of farm labor […] [t]he US government made arrangements with Mexico to bring in laborers to work on American farms. The program continued for a little while after the war ended. That’s when your Abuelo came. It was supposed to be temporary but he never left’ (109).

Malú’s mom then tells Malú that her grandmother came to the US alone, when she was 16 years old. When Malú was little, her grandparents lived in Florida; after her grandfather died, her grandmother moved back to California. Malú and her mom then discuss Malú’s identity, with her mom wanting Malú to embrace all aspects thereof. Malú counters that she already does.

The chapter closes with an eight-page collage detailing further aspects of the Bracero Program, and Malú saying that she works with her hands, too, though the work she does is much easier.

The next day, Monday, is also back-to-school night. Malú’s mom arrives late, looking, according to Malú, “like a college professor version of Frida Kahlo” (121). In Malú’s Spanish class, her mom looks at her family-tree project, which Malú has received an “A” on. Joe compliments Malú on her family tree, and then shows his to Malú, which is based on The Tule Tree, a very old tree in Mexico.

Malú’s mom gets into a conversation with Selena and Selena’s mother; Malú hurries over to them, attempting to mitigate the interaction. Malú’s mom is impressed by the fact that Selena dances the huapango, a traditional Mexican dance. Malú’s mom then informs Malú that she’s signed both herself and Malú up for a dance lesson at Selena’s mom’s dance studio.

Malú regards Selena’s family tree, which is comprised of a “printout of a tree image with photos of family members superimposed on the branches” (126). The “whole thing was printed in color on this fancy, shiny paper” (126). Selena sees Malú looking and offers that her family was in the United States even before there was a US-Mexico border. Selena, in a disparaging manner, offers that it might be difficult for Malú to learn traditional Mexican dances and then asks if Malú’s father—who is white—is also a “weirdo” (127). Malú simply walks away from the conversation.

Before leaving the school for the evening, Malú walks over to the signup sheet for the talent show at the Fall Fiesta. Joe approaches her and asks Malú what her talent is, saying that Selena—whose name is already on the list—will be dancing. Malú asks Joe if he plays any instruments; he says that he plays a little guitar and piano. Malú then takes “the pen that was hanging on a string next to the sign-up sheet and wrote [her] name in a blank line. Next to it, in parentheses, [she] wrote the word band” (128).

Joe and Malú are in line together at lunch, in the school cafeteria. Joe introduces Malú to his friend Benny, who is in the school marching band. Joe offers that he and Benny “used to play together in this kid mariachi group back in the day” (130). Benny says that he’s still playing mariachi music. Joe tells Benny that Malú wants to start a band and play in the Fall Fiesta talent show. Benny, after some initial hesitation, says he’s in. The trio considers possible band names, including “The Atomic Fireballs” and “Botched Manicure”; Malú offers “Dorothy and the Flying Monkeys,” a nod to The Wizard of Oz (132).

Selena and some of her friends—all wearing “matching candy necklaces”—approach Malú, Joe, and Benny (132). Malú thinks the group resemble “a pack of clones that escaped from Willy Wonka’s factory” (133). Selena, for the second time, brings up the concept of “coconuts”—a derogatory term for Mexican Americans who embrace Caucasian culture more than Chicanx culture. Selena calls both Malú and Joe “coconuts.”

Malú, Joe, and Benny decide the roles in the band. Malú will sing, Joe will play the guitar, and Benny offers to play bass, but the group needs a drummer. As Malú heads to class, she spots Ellie ahead of her in the hall. Malú convinces Ellie to be the drummer in the band in exchange for helping Ellie collect signatures for her petition. Ellie has no experience playing music; Malú offers that she’ll learn in time for the Fall Fiesta talent show.

At home, Malú and her mom bond a little over The Outsiders; both Malú and her mom love to read. Malú’s mom is disappointed there aren’t more authors of color on the class reading list. Malú bemoans her mother’s joy in the fact that in Chicago, Malú will be able to be around more people of Mexican descent and hear more Spanish. Malú also keeps the band she’s starting a secret from her mom.

After her mom leaves to go teach, Malú tries to “think of some songs to bring to [the] first band meeting,” but gets anxiety thinking about performing in front of people and calls her dad (142). He offers that songs by The Ramones aren’t difficult; after this, Malú brings up the concept of being a “coconut.” Her dad is unfamiliar with the term but deems it “clever” and “subversive” (143). Malú says that the term makes her “feel like there’s something wrong with”(143)—although her dad says there is not. He urges Malú to go to the dance lesson with her mom and to go to the record store he recommended to Malú before she moved. After the conversation, Malú counts her worry dolls and then puts the pillow over them.

The chapter concludes with an eight-page collage/zine titled “A Handbook for Coconuts” (145). The zine details all the ways in which Malú feels both non-Mexican and like an outsider, and it is based largely on insults/mockery that Selena has foisted upon Malú.