Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

On Sunday, Lila tells them that Mrs. Halper has been badly injured by her husband. When Piddy arrives, she sees caution tape, a police car, an ambulance, and a crowd of onlookers. When Lila catches sight of Piddy, she represses the urge to ask questions and, instead, hugs Piddy. Then, Lila relates how Joey found his mother unconscious. As Piddy worries about Joey, he emerges from the building with a police officer and gets into the ambulance; his gaze is hard, and he acknowledges no one. Next, police officers lead a handcuffed Mr. Halper to a police car. Piddy wonders why Mrs. Halper never asked for help, and suddenly, she is sick.

Piddy does not go to work but stays at Lila’s apartment hoping to see Joey. Eventually, Raúl drives Piddy home. The next morning, she returns and tosses rocks at his window, but Joey is not there. With Lila’s help, she goes into the basement to check on the kittens. They are sick and hungry, so Piddy begs to take them home. When the super arrives, Lila drops the kittens in her robe pockets, and they leave.

On Thanksgiving, Mitzi texts Piddy relentlessly, apologizing and asking her to come to her basketball game. Feeling numb, Piddy does not reply. When Lila arrives for dinner, she thrusts the kittens at Piddy. Even though Clara does not want the cats, she lets them stay for the day and eventually allows Piddy to keep one.

On Saturday, Piddy makes excuses for why she cannot work, so Lila sits her down and puts makeup on her. While she works, Lila presses Piddy about what is happening and guesses that Yaqui is still bothering her. Then, Piddy tells her about the video. After a moment, Lila urges Piddy to return to school and not let Yaqui have her way. Then, she explains that Piddy’s tormentor is in survival mode, and she must “beat or get beaten” (219). Lila suggests that Yaqui feels stuck in her life and hates that Piddy has a future. When Piddy admits to being scared, Lila reminds her of the strength she already possesses.

At the salon, Piddy’s phone rings. She does not know the number, so she ignores it until she gets a text beckoning her outside. Fear ripples through her as she peers out a window. It is Joey. When she emerges, he reveals that he is leaving for Pennsylvania. He knows his mom will return to his dad, and he needs to get away. He asks Piddy to go with him. Later, she thinks about Pennsylvania, and she texts an apology to Mitzi. Even though she leaves a note for her mom and brings a bag, Piddy does not plan to leave with Joey. At the station, they sit and reminisce. Then, it is time for him to leave. She gives him a kitten and some money. Before getting on the bus, Joey hugs her and tells her to run if she needs to.

On Monday, Lila walks Piddy to school. She has the broken elephant charm, but with each step, she feels increasing dread. When Piddy arrives late to class, everyone stares, and she imagines what they think of her. She tries to focus on her work but cannot. Piddy ignores Darlene’s whispers and slips out of class as soon as it is over. Later, in English, Piddy is assigned to work with Rob on the magazine layout. She apologizes for yelling at him. He understands, noting how scared she was. As they banter back and forth, Mr. Flatwell arrives to retrieve Piddy.

At his office, there is another teacher, Miss Castenado, who runs an anti-bullying program. Another student submitted an anonymous form reporting that Piddy was being bullied. They encourage her to talk, but when Miss Castenado suggests that everyone involved work together to resolve the problem, Piddy declines. Mr. Flatwell interjects to say that she used to be an A student; he knows that something is going on. Piddy feels small and insignificant, but when she closes her eyes, she hears Lila’s words about strength and her mother’s question about who she will be. Grabbing her elephant charm, she tells them that Yaqui Delgado has been bullying her.

Piddy chooses to stay when Mr. Flatwell brings Yaqui to his office with a police officer. Yaqui claims to not know Piddy. When Mr. Flatwell questions the bully, Piddy feels rage emanating from Yaqui and knows that Yaqui will come after her even worse now. Calming herself, Piddy talks while the officer takes notes. Yaqui denies everything. Then, Piddy writes down a web address. As Mr. Flatwell watches the video, Piddy does not feel embarrassed, and she does not cry.

As Miss Castenado escorts Piddy to the school doors, Rob approaches with a dismissal note. Once outside, he gives her an application to McCleary, the science magnet school, and urges her to apply because the deadline is Friday. Then, she questions whether he submitted the anonymous form. He says yes and then asks if she fixed his locker. When she says yes, Rob smiles quickly before leaving. From there, Piddy goes to Mitzi’s house where the friends talk awkwardly until Piddy’s phone dings with a picture of Joey with the kitten. They go inside to get caught up.

With Mitzi by her side, Piddy calls her mom and asks her to meet them at the salon later. When the girls get there, Gloria herds Lila, Mitzi, and Fabio to the back room while Piddy reveals everything to Clara. Then, Piddy says her mom needs to go to school with her tomorrow to talk with Mr. Flatwell about her options. She thinks one might be going to McCleary, and she shows her mom the filled-out application. Clara hugs her daughter tightly.

The next morning is snowy and cold when Piddy walks to school with her mom and Lila. They meet Mr. Flatwell who explains that even though it was for good reason, Piddy’s excessive absences make it hard for her to get caught up. He also tells them that if they press charges against Yaqui, she may be suspended or expelled. However, everyone is concerned that this will not stop Yaqui or her friends from harming Piddy. Then, Mr. Flatwell offers another option: apply for a safety transfer to Piddy’s previous school. Angry, Lila complains that Piddy should not have to be the one to leave. Remembering Joey’s words to her, Piddy decides to transfer.

Back at her old school, Piddy feels comfortable yet also different. Although she has friends and teachers who know her, she is constantly on guard. Her guidance counselor tells her that it will take time to recover. In the meantime, she has applied to McCleary and plans to join the school magazine.

One Saturday, Piddy is surprised to see her mom at the salon. Clara announces that it is a special day and holds an envelope from McCleary. Piddy has been accepted to start in the fall. When Clara cries, Gloria says they need music to celebrate. Piddy wants her mom to teach her to play the piano. Then, she and her mom dance together.