“Construction Paper” - “Latrine”
The narrator recounts, “I stretched out my hand, waiting for a piece of newspaper. The guard gave me something that felt like construction paper. It was sandpaper. Later I learned that a sandpaper was what they almost gave the men instead of toilet paper.” The metaphoric ‘construction paper’ underscores the roughness which the narrator endures during the call of nature. The narrator endures extremely difficult circumstances which make his endurance uncomfortable.
“Dying” - Birthday
The narrator explains, “I thought he (the visitor) was important because of the way he treated Turco, the shift supervisor, so I told him I was dying for a soda. He promised he would order the guards to bring me one today to celebrate my birthday.” The emblematic ‘dying’ underscores the narrator’s craving which can only be quenched by the consumption of soda. Receiving the soda would make the narrator’s birthday to be perfect.
Blindfolded - “Telepathy”
The narrator recounts, "I was expecting that my psyche, lifted to the ceiling, would be able to observe my body lying on a mattress stripped with red and filth. It didn't happen that way. Perhaps my mind's eyes were blindfolded, too." Telepathy fails due to the blindfolding. The narrator's mind is not effective in making the telepathy successful, while telepathy requires sufficient mental energy for it to transpire.
Puzzle - “A Puzzle”
The narrator acknowledges, “For a while now I’ve been trying to recall Ruth’s face looks. I can remember her big eyes, her almost non-existent little nose, the shape of her mouth. I recall the texture of her hair, the warmth of her skin. When I try to put it all together, something goes wrong. I just can’t remember my daughter’s face.” The inability to recollect the appearance of the narrator’s daughter’s face is a puzzle because their separation has not been long. Attempts to recount Ruth’s face are similar to a deconstruction of a complex puzzle. Inability to remember complicates the narrator’s puzzle.
“Senor”- “Form of Address”
Vasca asserts, “When this is over, I won’t even address God as Senor.” Senor is emblematic of greatness. Vasca’s does not trust in God’s greatness anymore; hence, sees no need to use the word when addressing Him. Vasca is disenchanted with God.
