The thing that was happening on the packing crate was rather odd. Because despite Juana's protests that Zip was a terrifying creep, an acting-out neurotic, and insecure to boot, her conversational efforts had all been directed at him. And even though her approach took the form of an attack, it was clear that she was bidding for Zip's attention and no one else's. Elena, meanwhile, was doing exactly the same thing, even though she seemed to be addressing Sixto. A none-too-subtle tug of war was taking place on that crate. Whatever Zip's flaws, he was obviously recognized by the girls as the most desirable of the three boys. And, thanks to either his indifference or his stupidity, he hadn't the faintest idea of what was happening.
"So how come you're so quiet?" Elena said to Sixto. "Aren't you excited about your friend Pepe Miranda?"
"He's no' my frien'," Sixto said. "Pepe's no damn good!"
The girl caught the accent. She looked at Sixto for a moment and then said, "Hey, what are you? A tiger or something?"
"I no tiger."
"You sound like one. Can't you speak English?"
Papa had been thinking over Sixto's comment, and had finally fathomed the meaning of it. "What you minn, he's no good?" he asked now. "Hey, Zeep! Sixto, he say Pepe's no good."
Zip turned from Juana. "What? Did you say that?"
"I dinn say nothin'," Sixto said.
And now Elena, anxious to recapture Zip's attention, quickly leaped in. "That's what he said, Zip. That's what the Marine Tiger said, all right."
"I no tiger. I speak English good!"
"He speaks a well English," Zip said, chuckling.
"He said Pepe's no good," Elena repeated.
"Is that what you said?" Zip asked, and he shoved out at Sixto. "Is that what you said, huh?" and he shoved again. "Huh?" and again he shoved, pushing Sixto closer to the edge of the crate. "Is that what you said, Sixto?" and he pushed hard this time, sending Sixto over the edge of the crate, reeling backward into the gutter. Zip burst out laughing. Papa and Elena joined him. Juana seemed undecided for a moment, as if her natural instinct was to climb down and help Sixto to his feet. The indecision passed. She tittered nervously, and then burst into laughter with the rest of them. Zip put his arm around Elena.
"What's wrong with you, anyway?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"So how come the big freeze?"
"What's with you and China?"
"That?"
"That."
"Nothing." He shrugged.
"The word says you're after Alfie."
"Well, like he's got it coming, you know?"
"Why? Because of something with China?"
"What're you worried about China for, huh?"
"With Alfie?"
"Yes," Elena said.
"Naw, no trouble," Zip answered. "Don't worry, huh?"
"Have you got a thing on with China?"
"Me?" Zip began laughing again. "Hey, you're jealous, ain't you? I'll be damned."
"She's old enough to be your mother," Elena said sullenly. "She must be nineteen, maybe even twenty."
"That don't make her old, only experienced. What's the matter, honey, huh?" he said sweetly. "You jealous, baby, huh?"
"No."
"You worried about poor little Alfie?"
"I don't care what you do to Alfie. Just answer me one question."
"Sure, what's that?"
"You got eyes for China or not?"
"Like, you know, doll, your interest gasses me, but don't start strong-arming me. I'll bust you right in the mouth, you know?"
Juana turned to him suddenly. "It takes a big man, don't it, to hit a girl?"
"Oh, get lost, zombie," he said to her. He wrapped his arms around Elena. "Come on, where's my hug?"
"Zip, cut it out," she said. "There's people watching."
"So let them, who cares?" He took one arm from Elena and pointed into the crowd. "Hey! Hey you! Fat boy!"
Frederick Block, who had shoved his way up to the barricade, looked up at Zip.
"You watching us, Fat Boy?"
Block turned away with a look of extreme disgust on his face. Zip burst out laughing.
"See, honey?" he said. "Nobody watching us." He pulled her closer to him. "Mmmm, you are the softest girl."
"I shouldn't let you," Elena said. "Not after this China thing."
"Somebody's got to protect little China, no?" His hands roamed her body. He touched her breast, and she pulled away from him quickly, embarrassed, but he drew her close again, and she stood unprotesting in the circle of his arms. Zip stroked her back gently.
"You going to hurt Alfie Gomez?" Juana asked.
"Drop dead," Zip told her.
"Big man," Juana said. "Everybody in this neighborhood's a big man. It's just you're insecure, that's all."
"Man, she sprouts that crap like as if she grows it in her mouth," Zip said. "I got news for you, zombie. I
"Whoever heard of the Latin Purples outside of you and your mother?" Juana asked. "If one of those Royal Guardians came down the street right now, you'd pass out cold."
"I ain't afraid of no Royal Guardians," Zip said angrily. "I ain't afraid of
