Tangerine

Paul is mildly bullied in the hallways, teased for being from Lake Windsor. He finds out that Tino and Victor Guzman have been in “vandalism jail” for the incident at the carnival (105), and Paul wisely keeps quiet about his role in their punishment. Later, at soccer practice, Paul undergoes some more hazing, as Victor engages in some trash talk and then outright cheating. Paul remains calm and stoic, firm in his desire to be a part of this team.

Paul gets his new soccer uniform. In contrast to Joey’s light blue Lake Windsor Seagulls jersey, Paul’s maroon-and-gold jersey “shows a ferocious-looking eagle with arrows in its talons” (110). Erik and Arthur come in while Joey is still at the house, and they engage in some vicious teasing, laughing not only at Joey trying to pry the shoes off his dead brother but also at Mike’s “Mohawk-like” appearance. Paul is deeply embarrassed, and Joey is hurt and appalled. He explains that “Mike always felt better when he got his shoes off. […] And that’s all I was trying to do” (112). Paul suggests that Joey come to Tangerine Middle with him to escape the memories of Mike’s death.

The War Eagles play their first soccer game at one of the suburban schools in the district. As they take the field, the spectators jeer at them, shouting incoherent insults. Paul is taken aback, but the other players appear accustomed to the rude behavior, and Victor leads them in a literal war chant: “War! War! War!” (115). The abuse from the crowd continues throughout the game, and Paul is impressed that his teammates—as well as their Black coach—handle the mistreatment with dignified pride.

During the game, an opposing player smears mud in Paul’s eyes, which causes him to go “berserk” (119), punching and screaming at the kid. He is pulled out of the game and watches while his teammates ferociously manage to secure a tie, despite dirty tricks from the other team and poor refereeing. Afterward, Victor tells Paul, “[i]f you’re a War Eagle, then you’re a War Eagle. You got brothers to back you up” (121). 

Joey decides that he will attend Tangerine Middle and plans to start the following Monday. Paul is excited to introduce Joey to his new teammates and tells him to ask for Theresa Cruz as a guide on his first day. Just as Theresa was able to connect Paul with the soccer team, she should be able to introduce Joey to the group. When Joey asks about the team, Paul tells them that soccer is serious business for them: “It’s like it’s life or death for them” (123). Joey thinks he can handle that level of intensity.

While Paul has been focused on soccer, the Erik Fisher Football Dream continues unabated. It’s the first football game of the season, and everyone expects Erik to shine. However, the game is close, and rain makes everything more difficult. In a surprise play, the quarterback Antoine Thomas serves as placeholder for the extra point, pulling it away from Erik at the last second to score a two-point conversion for the lead. Paul compares it to what “Lucy does with Charlie Brown” (127), as Erik kicks at air and lands on his back in the mud.

While the gambit secures Lake Windsor the win, it troubles Paul. He knows that Erik won’t soon forget the humiliation. Sure enough, the clip is featured on the nightly blooper reel of the local news station, and the Fisher family sits in stony silence. Paul thinks, “if I were at somebody else’s house, we’d be rolling on the floor and laughing at this. […] But this isn’t somebody else’s house. This is the house built on the Erik Fisher Football Dream” (129). He worries what retribution Erik will carry out.

The second soccer game of the season is a home game, and Paul wonders why his parents are not present. Victor receives an injury, and the coach pulls him out of the game, putting Paul in at fullback—a position he rarely plays. He is still able to score a goal, earning him the respect of his teammates and Victor himself.

After a phone call from his grandparents, Paul is called to the phone again. Surprised, he hears the voice of a girl from Lake Windsor asking him if he likes Kerri Gardner. Thrown off, Paul doesn’t answer, and the girl quickly hangs up. Paul calls Joey to discuss this interesting turn of events. Joey suggests that Kerri was probably listening on the other line, and Paul should call her directly. The dawning realization hits him: “Kerri Gardener knows about my glasses, but she doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with me” (137).

Victor isn’t allowed to practice because of his stitches, so he unleashes his pent-up energy by teasing Joey. Unlike Paul, Joey does not handle the hazing very well. Victor asks Joey why he follows Paul everywhere like he’s a fish to catch. This leads to Victor saddling Joey with the nickname “Charlie the Tuna.” Paul’s Mom arrives to pick up the boys and, fascinated by the presence of girls on the team, decides to contact the local paper to do a story about them. She also suggests that Joey stay the night at their house, but Paul knows that Joey will refuse. He hasn’t been over since Erik’s inappropriate comments about his dead brother.

Joey does not come back for soccer practice, as Paul feared. However, a journalist is there, at his Mom’s behest, to do a story on the female soccer players. Shandra, an excellent female player, sprints away, leaving Paul puzzled. The coach talks to the journalist about another one of the girls. Shandra returns once the journalist is gone, and the next day’s paper has a story about another female player instead.