Mexikid: Chapters 12–16

by Pedro Martín
In this graphic memoir Pedro/Peter Martín recounts the summer when his big family took a road trip to Mexico to tighten loose ends and bring his legendary, bandit-fighting Abuelito to live with them in California.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–8, Chapters 9–11, Chapters 12–16, Chapters 17–20
40 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. corrupt
    dishonest or immoral or evasive
    I don't know. It's a long and dangerous trip back. There are road bandits and corrupt cops...
  2. logic
    reasoned and reasonable judgment
    Sal had his logic.
  3. savvy
    the ability to shrewdly understand or judge things
    Ruth had that ghost-business savvy.
  4. sage
    having wisdom that comes with experience
    Lila had all that sage wisdom.
  5. ruthless
    without mercy or pity
    And Leon and Noe had their stupid, ruthless, unnecessary tricks...
  6. invaluable
    having incalculable monetary or intellectual worth
    Before they could drive away, Abuelito offered them some advice. After all, he had traveled all over Mexico, sometimes just on foot, so his knowledge of this great and wild land was invaluable.
  7. mature
    characteristic of adulthood
    I needed to be on the lookout for my time to help the adults. I was "in support" now. I needed to be mature enough to see...when...Hey! They have pop rocks!
  8. endorse
    approve of
    I loved a good "tiendita." Not only was this one full of all the best Mexican-style sweets, it was endorsed by both Coca-Cola and the Virgen de Guadalupe!
  9. sidle
    move sideways
    Suddenly a skinny little kid sidled up to Adam.
  10. mucus
    protective secretion of membranes lining internal organs
    It was one of those thick, thick mucus drips that can and will fight for its own survival.
  11. partial
    showing favoritism
    She may have been partial, but she thought our ice cream was the best in town.
  12. ghoulish
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
    It was really sunny that morning. Perfect weather for a cemetery dig, I guess. There were no wolves howling or anything. And the guy who ran the place was young and suntanned. Not a ghoulish guy with a lantern like you'd expect.
  13. lantern
    a light in a transparent protective case
    It was really sunny that morning. Perfect weather for a cemetery dig, I guess. There were no wolves howling or anything. And the guy who ran the place was young and suntanned. Not a ghoulish guy with a lantern like you'd expect.
  14. delicate
    difficult to handle; requiring great tact
    The guy explained that it was going to be an especially delicate dig.
  15. zealot
    a fervent and even militant proponent of something
    Abuelito started to dig first. For a guy who could outlift Noe and battle road bandits and religious zealots, he seemed kinda frail today. His might hands were not gripping the shovel very tightly.
  16. frail
    physically weak
    Abuelito started to dig first. For a guy who could outlift Noe and battle road bandits and religious zealots, he seemed kinda frail today. His might hands were not gripping the shovel very tightly.
  17. drought
    a shortage of rainfall
    They worked as hard as they could to keep the land producing. But then a terrible drought came and the crops started to die away.
  18. leaflet
    a small book usually having a paper cover
    When your father was about sixteen years old, an airplane flew by and dropped leaflets near their rancho. The flyers advertised jobs in the cotton fields near Gómez Palacio.
  19. advertise
    make publicity for; try to sell
    When your father was about sixteen years old, an airplane flew by and dropped leaflets near their rancho. The flyers advertised jobs in the cotton fields near Gómez Palacio.
  20. devotion
    religious zeal; the willingness to serve God
    That's her scapular.* I remember burying her in it.
    *Worn over the shoulders by Catholics sometimes to show devotion for the Sacred Heart of Jesus or a saint.
  21. velvet
    a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
    My amá rinsed the mud off of the scapular in the motorhome's sink. Without all the muck, it was a beautiful velvet ribbon.
  22. mausoleum
    a large burial chamber, usually above ground
    A few days after we moved Abuelita into her new mausoleum, my tía had us all over to celebrate Abuelito's move to the USA.
  23. ballad
    a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
    And then after a bunch of rousing ballads were sung, the "Thinkable" happened.
  24. torment
    intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain
    Abuelito sang a song called "Prieta Linda." Apá said it was Abuelito's favorite. It was a song about loss and torment.
  25. fiery
    characterized by intense emotion
    It felt crazy! Like all the sadness I saw at the cemetery and all the happiness I felt right now became a fiery ball in my chest that would not stay down.
  26. introspection
    contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct
    Maybe Alex was right. Maybe I wasn't "Mexican enough." Fancy haircut aside, if I couldn't express my feelings in a real Mexican fashion, how Mexican was I? This was the kind of introspection I was trying to avoid from the get-go.
  27. vengeance
    harming someone in retaliation for something they have done
    Well, I guess I would have gone for an "I will return and have vengeance on all the evildoers" kinda thing. But that's me.
  28. mission
    a special assignment that is given to a person or group
    We were finally done with our mission, and it was time to go home.
  29. chronicle
    record in order or make a historical record of
    It made me want to draw something new! I decided to chronicle Abuelito's new adventures!
  30. eager
    having or showing keen interest or intense desire
    After all I had seen and heard about my abuelito, I was eager to hear more. Eager, but kind of nervous.
  31. sidekick
    a close associate or assistant in an activity
    This I can use! He was a super smart mule sidekick. Like a four-legged boy wonder!
  32. immense
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    He drew himself next to Guicho. His hat was low on his head and his scarf was under his nose. He did it so well, it was like had done it a hundred time before. Was this where I got my immense skills?
  33. specialty
    an asset of special worth or utility
    Palomitas are triangular firecrackers made out of newspaper and gunpowder. A homemade Mexican specialty.
  34. fishy
    creating feelings of suspicion or doubt
    Nah. Come on. Let's go. Sounds fishy.
  35. quota
    a prescribed number
    OK, but you must buy them all or my father will beat me for not selling my quota.
  36. hulk
    something big or impressive in size or qualities
    Maybe...but we can have the Catholic Hulk on our side!
  37. vaguely
    in an unclear way
    And then he can say something vaguely religious, like...Forget Palm Sunday! It's Fist Friday!
  38. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
    Hell is a religious concept we Catholics adhere to.
  39. adhere
    be a devoted follower or supporter
    Hell is a religious concept we Catholics adhere to.
  40. precious
    of high worth or cost
    Life is precious. Money is not.
Created on Mon Apr 01 10:32:48 EDT 2024 (updated Tue Apr 02 10:39:52 EDT 2024)

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