Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories Characters

A girl whom Lucy and the Lucy narrator tease in “My Lucy Friend Who Smells like Corn.” Janey lives nearby, and the two other girls make a special trip to her house just to taunt her by saying that they’ll never be her friend again.

A student in Mrs. Price’s class who claims a ratty old sweater belongs to Rachel (in the story “Eleven”). Because of this assertion, Rachel privately refers to Sylvia as “stupid.”

The Movies narrator’s younger brother in “Mexican Movies.” Kiki is rambunctious and enjoys running up and down the halls of the cinema, throwing popcorn into the air and buying treats in the lobby during sexually explicit scenes.

A young girl who plays with the Barbie-Q narrator and shares her interest in Barbie dolls. Like the narrator, the narrator’s friend is never actually assigned a gender in the story.

The “Tepeyac” narrator’s grandfather, who owns a store in Tepeyac.

The “Tepeyac” narrator’s grandmother, who lives with Abuelito in an apartment the narrator visits many years later only to discover he doesn’t know the people living inside anymore.

Ixchel’s uncle and Abuelita’s son in “One Holy Night.” Abuelita blames Uncle Lalo for Ixchel’s pregnancy, arguing that such a thing never would have happened if he were working the cucumber pushcart like he’s supposed to, instead of coming home late and letting his niece shoulder the responsibility.

Ixchel’s friend in “One Holy Night,” and one of only two people—along with Lourdes—who knows about her pregnancy. Rachel tells Ixchel that love is like somebody pushing a piano from the top of a building and asking another person to catch it.

Ixchel’s friend, and one of only two people—along with Rachel—who knows about her pregnancy. Lourdes upholds that love is like a top that is spinning so fast that its colors blend together to create a “white hum.”

Trish’s mother in “My Tocaya,” who puts a message in the paper when Trish goes missing: “Honey, call Mommy y te quiero mucho” (Honey, call Mommy and I love you so much).

Trish’s brother in “My Tocaya,” who works at Father & Son’s Taco Palace No. 2 until quitting because his father beats him. Ralphie is friends with Max Lucas Luna Luna, which is why Trish knows that Max has a crush on the Tocaya narrator.

Cleófilas and Juan Pedro’s son in “Woman Hollering Creek,” who is born in Texas. Juan Pedrito travels with his mother from Texas to Mexico as they escape his abusive father.

A professional wrestler in “La Fabulosa: A Texas Operetta” who the Fabulosa narrator describes as a “sweetie.” Carmen runs off with King Kong, escaping both José and Camilo Escamilla.

Drew’s son in “Never Marry a Mexican,” a boy whose name is never mentioned. When he’s a senior in high school, Drew’s son sleeps with Clemencia.

A Mexican man in “Never Marry a Mexican” who married Clemencia’s mother when she was only 17. When Clemencia’s father dies, she is extremely upset and can’t forgive her mother for quickly running off with a new lover.

Clemencia’s sister in “Never Marry a Mexican,” with whom she lives when she first leaves home.

An Italian man in “Bread” who passes the day eating bread and laughing with the Bread narrator. The narrator’s lover teaches her phrases in Italian and talks about the buildings as they pass outside the car’s window.

Inés and Emiliano’s son in “Eyes of Zapata.” When Nicolás loses his first tooth, his father fetches him and brings him to battle, only to bring him back to Inés after a close call that puts his life in danger.

Inés and Emiliano’s daughter in “Eyes of Zapata.” Like all the women in Inés’s family, Malena has special powers that allow her to see things other people are unable to see—this is a skill Inés teaches her daughter, just as Inés’s mother taught her.

A character in “Eyes of Zapata,” a woman who is raped and killed by her neighbors after Inés—her daughter—causes a hailstorm as a child that ruins the town’s crops. In one of her visions, Inés sees her mother’s eyes as they fix upon the sky during her terrible death.

Inés’s aunt in “Eyes of Zapata.” When Inés’s mother dies, Remigio takes her go to live with Tía Chucha, who slowly takes on the role of Inés’s mother.

Emiliano’s true wife in “Eyes of Zapata.” Though María has two children with Emiliano, they both die before ceasing to breastfeed. During one of her flights through the night sky, Inés sees María Josefa and Emiliano sleeping side by side—an image that strikes her to her core.

The owner of Anguiano Religious Articles, a store that sells relics and statues of various saints. Anguiano is a “crab ass” who insults the Anguiano narrator by suggesting that she doesn’t have enough money to buy anything in his store.

Lupita’s best friend in “Bien Pretty,” who lives in California and thinks Lupita is crazy for moving to Texas, where she insists people still lynch Mexicans.