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The story opens after Gerald has had dinner at Manuel Pacheco's new house. Walking back to Gerald's house, Manuel, whose nickname is Man, tells him that before recently moving to his block he saw his father shoot and kill his mom. Gerald maintains that he just saw Man's mom at dinner but Man tells him that she is his new step mom. Man explains that his father is a cop and that is how he was able to cover up the murder. Gerald finds Man's story incongruous with how Manuel's family presents themselves. As the perfect nuclear family.
Man and Gerald's birthdays are days apart. At Man's birthday party Gerald meets Hector, the only other person whom Man has shared his secret with. Hector cautions Gerald and Man to keep their mouths shut because nobody would believe a kid. But if he could, he would kill Man's dad. Man agrees with that sentiment.
On the morning of Gerald's birthday, August 9th, there is much joy- Richard Nixon has resigned! Gerald's father and his brother Kenny are beside themselves with joy, and even though Gerald is gladdened by the news, and has been trying to tell his teacher and friends about Nixon burning children alive with napalm, he is afraid his birthday will get upstaged. Gerald's party is boisterous, with his Mexican American relatives from his mother's side and his Jewish relatives on his father's side in attendance. Man completely destroys the pinata in an inexplicable rage.
After Gerald and his family return from their traditional visit to Arizona to see his mother's father Papa Joe, Manuel tells Gerald that Hector has been killed by a hit and run driver.
As the story progresses Man's father begins to suspect that Man has been sharing his suspicions with Gerald. He makes veiled threats to Gerald concerning his own mom whom Gerald has a very close relationship with and is the thing that sustains Gerald as he tries to cope with Man's jarring revelations.
The penultimate moment comes with Man's drowning by his father which Gerald witnesses through binoculars from his perch in a rubber tree in his backyard.
With his friend, an older boy named Greg Gibson, who is the neighborhood Evel Kneivel and mad scientist all wrapped into one, Gerald shares his fear that Mr. Pacheco is going to try to harm his mother. When Mr. Pacheco's lawn mower explodes, burning him terribly, Gerald knows who is responsible and is grateful.
A badly burned Mr. Pacheco shows up one night to enact his revenge, but is thwarted by Gerald with a baseball bat. His brother Kenny had secretly tape recorded Mr. Pacheco's confession.
