Lucky Broken Girl

Ruthie’s mother is a charming and pretty woman who misses Cuba and loves her family. Before the accident, her primary duties include tending to housework, preparing meals, and making sure Ruthie and Izzie are clean and calm when Papi arrives home for dinner. She often grows frustrated with her husband, as he wants to spend money on American goods like Ruthie’s go-go boots and the car, while she must be the one to make ends meet at home. However, she takes time with her appearance, believing it is important for her as a wife to keep her husband happy.

Although saddened by Ruthie’s condition after the accident, she sometimes feels bitter about being stuck inside all the time with Ruthie. She is therefore thrilled when Ruthie’s casts are removed and angry when Ruthie continues to stay in bed, too afraid to walk. However, when Ruthie eventually begins to walk and returns to school, Mami reveals that she misses Ruthie’s presence in the apartment, proving that she does in fact care for her daughter deeply. Because her feelings about having Ruthie near her change, and because her homesickness lessens, she is a dynamic character.

Ruthie’s father works many hours and two jobs to support his family. He believes that he should be able to spend freely as a result of his own hard work, and that he should take advantage of his ability and freedom to do so; in Communist Cuba, Papi was not able to live so freely. Consequently, he buys go-go boots for Ruthie and a toy car for Izzy, followed soon after by a much more extravagant purchase of a blue Oldsmobile. The car is in Papi’s ownership for only two days when the accident occurs; he feels guilt and responsibility for insisting on buying the car and making the trip to Staten Island to see friends. At the end of the story, he symbolically makes amends by arriving home with a new pair of go-go boots to replace the ones Ruthie lost in the accident (although Ruthie gives them to Danielle with his permission). Papi demonstrates consistent traits and is a static character.

Chicho is a male neighbor of the Mizrahis who takes the apartment vacated by the Sharmas. He shows a genuine and immediate interest in Ruthie’s well-being; he gives her painting supplies, helps to turn her bed to the window, and convinces her that she can dance on her healed leg. Chicho thus serves both as an ally and mentor to Ruthie, guiding her as she heals and matures. Although he goes back to Mexico following the death of his father, he returns to Queens as Ruthie learns to walk again.

Ruthie thinks that her friend Danielle is lovely and elegant; Danielle plays hopscotch in fine clothes and speaks with a French accent. Her admiration of Danielle makes Danielle’s near total absence after Ruthie’s accident all the more hurtful, but Danielle later proves herself a true friend and ally. Danielle even refuses to play hopscotch until Ruthie can play again and gives Ruthie her own go-go boots since Ruthie lost hers in the accident. 

Amara is the nurse whose tough-love approach spurs Ruthie’s progress in returning to walking and normal activity. She insists that Ruthie dress and leave the bed, teaches her how to use crutches and negotiate stairs, and gets her to venture outside on her own for the first time in months. Later, Amara removes Ruthie’s crutches and, with Chicho’s help, gets Ruthie to support her weight on both legs. She serves as a mentor and guide whose strong personality has a positive effect on Ruthie, especially in juxtaposition to previous nurses and to Mami.