Ednas Ruthie by Sandra Cisneros from The House on Mango Street Ruthie, tall skinny lady with red

lipstick and blue babushka, one blue sock and one green because she forgot, is the only grown-up we know who likes to play. She takes her dog Bobo for a walk and laughs all by herself, that Ruthie. She doesnt need anybody to laugh with, she just laughs. She is Ednas daughter, the lady who owns the big building next door, three apartments front and back. Every week Edna is screaming at somebody, and every week somebody has to move away. Once she threw out a pregnant lady just because she owned a duck. . . and it was a nice duck too. But Ruthie lives here and Edna cant throw her out because Ruthie is her daughter. Ruthie came one day, it seemed, out of nowhere. Angel Vargas was trying to teach us how to whistle. Then we heard someone whistling beautiful like the Emperors nightingale and when we turned around there was Ruthie. Sometimes we go shopping and take her with us, but she never comes inside the stores and if she does she keeps looking around her like a wild animal in a house for the first time. She likes candy. When we go to Mr. Bennys grocery she gives us money to buy her some. She says make sure its the soft kind because her teeth hurt. Then she promises to see the dentist next week, but when next week comes, she doesnt go. Ruthie sees lovely things everywhere. I might be telling her a joke and shell stop and say: The moon is beautiful like a balloon. Or somebody might be singing and shell point to a few clouds: Look, Marlon Brando. Or a sphinx winking. Or my left shoe. Once some friends of Ednas came to visit and asked Ruthie if she wanted to go with them to play bingo. The car motor was running, and Ruthie stood on the steps wondering whether to go. Should I go, Ma? she asked the gray shadow behind the second-floor screen. I dont
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. Alfred A. Knopf Inc.: New York, 1984.

Ednas Ruthie by Sandra Cisneros from The House on Mango Street care, says the screen, go if you want. Ruthie looked at the ground. What do you think, Ma? Do what you want, how should I know? Ruthie looked at the ground some more. The car with the motor running waited fifteen minutes and then they left. When we brought out the deck of cards that night, we let Ruthie deal. There were many things Ruthie could have been if she wanted to. Not only is she a good whistler, but she can sing and dance too. She had lots of job offers when she was young, but she never took them. She got married instead and moved away to a pretty house outside the city. Only thing I cant understand is why Ruthie is living on Mango Street if she doesnt have to, why is she sleeping on a couch in her mothers living room when she has a real house all her own, but she says shes just visiting and the next weekend her husbands going to take her home. But the weekends come and go and Ruthie stays. No matter. We are glad because she is our friend. I like showing Ruthie the books I take out of the library. Books are wonderful, Ruthie says, and then she runs her hand over them as if she could read them in Braille. Theyre wonderful, wonderful, but I cant read anymore. I get headaches. I need to go to the eye doctor next week. I used to write childrens books once, did I tell you? One day I memorized all of The Walrus and the Carpenter because I wanted Ruthie to hear me. The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all his might. . . Finally I came to the last lines: But answer came there none and this was scarcely odd, because theyd eaten every one. . . She took a long time looking at me before she opened her mouth, and then she said, You have the most beautiful teeth I have ever seen, and went inside.

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. Alfred A. Knopf Inc.: New York, 1984.