Free Lunch

Luciana is Rex and Ford’s mother, a complex person who proves both abusive and loving (this hot-and-cold attitude often being a form of abuse in itself, intentional or not), and Rex determines that the difference lies in her financial situation. She often verbally or physically lashes out at Rex, both of which escalate when she’s in a financial crisis. Rex describes Luciana as unpredictable, and explains the toll it has on his mental health: “She’s a grenade, my mom, but you can’t see the pin, if it’s in or out. So Sam, Ford, and I sit around, waiting for her to explode. I’m never relaxed. Never calm. Or happy. I’m always on edge” (155). Luciana is stubborn and proud, and when her mother, Rex’s abuela, tries to provide groceries and clothes, she sees it as an affront and destroys the food. In observing his mother at Walmart compared to other mothers, Rex notes, “She hasn’t showered today, so her hair’s all messy. She’s wearing old sweat-bottoms, a stained shirt, and flip-flops. She doesn’t wear makeup. My mom doesn’t have any jewelry on. ‘Cause she doesn’t own any” (32). Rex feels ashamed of his mother and the family’s position in life, and often blames her for their problems. Likewise, Luciana often blames Rex for her abuse by Sam, which reinforces Rex’s belief that the abuse is his fault—when both parents are at fault for creating a toxic environment. Whenever Luciana breaks down, Rex parents her rather than the other way around. When Rex decides to swallow his pride and help his mother, she opens up about her stress and is eventually able to find work, improving the family’s lives. While she maintains her grenade-like pride (such as when she becomes irritated when Sam shows her up on Christmas), she becomes more attentive and loving than she was before.

Sam is Luciana’s boyfriend and the biological father of Ford, and an abusive person who hits Luciana and Rex whenever he feels they have done something wrong; in turn, his abuse exacerbates Luciana’s abuse of Rex. As both Luciana and Sam are unemployed when Rex starts middle school, Rex sees Sam as lazy. Sam does find work months before Luciana and becomes the only adult in the family with a job for several weeks. He supports the idea of Rex playing football, but when Luciana accuses him of being a loser, Sam explodes and beats her. Whenever these episodes occur, Rex blames himself. Sam has a negative influence on Rex, as Rex often finds himself with the same dark thoughts of hurting others: “Maybe I’m not so different from Sam. Maybe I am a bad person” (121). Sam claims to stay with Luciana for Ford’s sake, and has a sense of pride that is easily bruised. After he takes Rex to the pawn shop, he cries, humiliated and regretful that Rex had to see him sell their valuables. When the family isn’t able to get Rex’s stereo from the pawn shop, Sam buys him a Nintendo console instead. Like Luciana, Sam’s hot-and-cold attitude is a form of abuse, leaving Rex in a constant state of tension—though his attempts at humor and Christmas gift are framed as improvements.

Ford is Rex’s younger half-brother, as Sam is his biological father. Ford is a toddler when Rex enters middle school, and shares his distress. During Luciana and Sam’s first fight in the memoir, Rex takes Ford to his bedroom and builds a fort for him, a “castle” that will protect them both. He curls up with Ford inside his sleeping bag and tells him stories until he falls asleep. Ford expresses his frustration and panic through crying and screaming, and this is especially evident whenever Luciana and Sam leave the boys alone for several days. Despite being a child himself, Rex feeds Ford and keep him safe, removing him from the neighborhood boys’ dangerous games. Even when getting punished by Sam, all Rex can think about is Ford: “I’m not upset for me. I’m upset for Ford” (43). This protectiveness illuminates Rex’s maturity.

Ethan becomes Rex’s best friend at school when Rex’s old friend group leaves him. One day, Rex is sitting alone at the cafeteria when Ethan sits down and introduces himself. Ethan talks about flawed systems that pit students against each other (i.e., the school cafeteria), and Rex agrees. He introduces Rex to superheroes, particularly the X-Men, whom Ethan finds inspiring due to their willingness to fight injustice. He compliments Rex’s skepticism of himself and others, and the two become fast friends. Ethan challenges Rex’s ideas and doesn’t judge him when he confesses to wanting to hurt those who commit crimes. He helps Rex understand that no family is perfect, and that having money doesn’t necessarily make a person happy. Overall, his lessons teach Rex to be grateful: “Ethan’s a good person. I kinda hope that if I hang around him long enough, I’ll be a good person too” (171).

Abuela, Luciana’s mother and Rex’s grandmother, is the one adult in Rex’s life who proves a positive influence and source of comfort. She lives three hours away and Rex rarely gets to see her, but often calls her. After his first day of middle school, Rex calls Abuela to complain about being around rich children, and Abuela gives Rex perspective by telling him about her difficult childhood in Mexico. She had thirteen siblings, two of whom died, and one of whom suffered a severe tapeworm infection. In the moment, Rex doesn’t understand why Abuela is sharing her story, but she patiently reminds him to work hard. Rex later reflects on this conversation during Christmas break when reminding himself to be grateful.

When Abuela visits for Thanksgiving, she brings groceries and clothes for Rex and Ford. The gifts excite Rex, but Luciana accuses her mother of buying her grandsons’ love and destroys most of the food. Abuela bears witness to Luciana being dragged away and hit by Sam, and later cries and apologizes to her grandsons. Rex takes Abuela for a walk around the neighborhood to calm her nerves, but a beaten Luciana forces Abuela to leave in the middle of the night and take her gifts with her. While Abuela’s appearance in the memoir is brief, her presence is felt in Rex’s changed perspective and Luciana’s desire do better by her sons; while Luciana’s abuse is inexcusable, her vitriol toward her mother potentially stems from her feeling like an inadequate mother.