Tangerine

Paul attends his first day at Tangerine Middle, as his Mom worries aloud that the unsupervised students at the entrance appear worrisome. Paul pushes past “the karate kickers and the gangstas” to enter the building (95). He finds himself in a very different place, noting that his schedule is almost exactly the same, but “the rooms and the people are completely different” (97). He notes that Tangerine Middle is “a tougher school” (97) and that “minorities are the majority” (99). Paul, however, doesn’t consider this last a problem: “I’ve always felt like a minority because of my eyes” (99).

Theresa Cruz is supposed to show Paul around, but she doesn’t say much until Paul brings up the soccer team. She reveals that her twin brother, Tino, is on the team; the team is co-ed, so there are four girls on the roster; and that the War Eagles is one of the best teams in the area. Paul is determined to be a member of the team and ensures that his Mom did not turn in his IEP paperwork.

Paul is mildly bullied in the hallways, teased for being from Lake Windsor. He finds out that Tino and Victor Guzman have been in “vandalism jail” for the incident at the carnival (105), and Paul wisely keeps quiet about his role in their punishment.