Solito: A Memoir: Chapters Three–Six

by Javier Zamora
In this memoir, the author recounts how as a nine-year-old, he migrated from El Salvador to reunite with his parents in California.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters One–Two, Chapters Three–Six, Chapter Seven–April 5, 2021
30 words 31 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. mangrove
    a tree that grows in salty, tropical water near the coast
    The estero water underneath the pier was calm, sweet, and surrounded by mangroves. If I wanted to get to the ocean, it was a thirty-minute boat ride through the mangroves.
  2. overwhelming
    very intense
    Each barrel is almost my height. I’m far from them, but I can smell the gasoline, almost like paint, like glue, like smelling highlighters. At first, it smells good, but soon, it’s overwhelming.
  3. delta
    a low area of alluvial deposits where a river divides
    We’re closer to the delta. It reminds me of taking a boat from my hometown to the ocean; that was the scariest part, the bumps.
  4. churn
    be agitated
    My stomach churns like I’m about to puke.
  5. shrill
    having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
    “Help!” breaks the silence. A shrill scream like cats fighting at night.
  6. throttle
    a valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine
    The young one starts the motors again. Rrrrrrrrrr. Twists the throttle all the way.
  7. frond
    compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad
    The palm trees sway slowly with the slight breeze, each frond an arm waving, welcoming us.
  8. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    Patricia slaps Chino’s back and looks at him with her eyebrows furrowing.
  9. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    People shuffle their bags, unzip purses, plastic rustles, wallets flap open.
  10. jut
    extend out or project in space
    Her belly big, white, jutting from her sides like she’s pregnant.
  11. clarify
    make clear and comprehensible
    “Money. That clear?” The Mustache clarifies.
  12. sprawl
    sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
    Paula freezes. Her hands and legs sprawled like mine. Like ours. Belly down.
  13. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    Cars drive by like nothing was ever there. Like we’re not here next to the road, walking toward the makeshift bus stop.
  14. waft
    blow gently
    The driver has all his windows down to let the air waft through the microbus.
  15. barge
    push one's way
    With the bathroom just steps away, they might barge in at any second.
  16. intertwine
    spin, wind, or twist together
    Back home, I flipped between Blue’s Clues and Nature. I was hooked ever since I saw two snails kissing, their bodies intertwined, perfectly aligned, their four eyes moving every which way.
  17. serrated
    notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
    The opened mouths with serrated teeth, like little saws.
  18. consistency
    the degree of density, firmness, or viscosity of a substance
    The potato chip consistency of the fried fins, the fried tails—my favorite part.
  19. barrio
    a district in a Spanish-speaking country
    Marcelo is from the center of town, near the mercado. Dad is from the pier, Mom is from deeper into town. Three different barrios.
  20. maroon
    of dark brownish to purplish red
    Immediately, I pull the maroon velvet curtain to the side to take a look at the city, Chente’s city, through the tinted glass.
  21. groggy
    stunned or confused and slow to react
    More lights turn on inside the bus, people get up, slowly, groggy, almost falling over into the nearest seat, or back down into the seat they sat on for half a day.
  22. feign
    give a false appearance of
    “Welcome,” the bus driver says from his driver’s seat as we walk past him. We don’t respond. Patricia feigns a wave.
  23. reprimand
    censure severely or angrily
    “Shhhh,” Patricia reprimands them, looking around, holding Carla’s and my hands harder.
  24. slat
    a thin strip of wood or metal
    The chairs have three wooden slats in the backrest.
  25. modest
    limited in size or scope
    “It’s a modest place, but it’s yours,” The Dad adds. “There are a few supplies in the kitchen and that small fridge.”
  26. rancid
    having an offensive smell or taste
    They smelled rancid, like mangos rotting.
  27. frail
    physically weak
    “¿Aló? ¿Aló?” Patricia says, her voice frail like it’s breaking up.
  28. adorn
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
    One by one, she places the tacos onto a paper plate she adorns with radishes, sliced limes, and pickled jalapeños and carrots.
  29. flustered
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    He’s not nice to me, but I like that he asks questions that get Coyote flustered and sometimes mad.
  30. contraption
    a small mechanical device or tool
    “Place it in here and crush with this.” The stick breaks the chile into small pieces that look like salt. “Then sprinkle.” Coyote takes the contraption and dumps it on his food.
Created on Mon Jan 08 15:09:24 EST 2024 (updated Tue Jan 09 13:46:53 EST 2024)

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