AMIGO BROTHERS by Piri Thomas (Detailed Summary)

AMIGO BROTHERS

- Piri Thomas

Detailed Summary

Amigo Brothers is a short story written by Piri Thomas. The main characters are Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas who are seventeen years old. Even though they are friends, they consider themselves as brothers. That is why the author refers to them as “amigo brothers”. They are born and brought up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Both are boxers who want to become a “light-weight champion of the world”.

Antonio is fair in complexion, lean and lanky. On the other hand, Felix is an Afro-American who is short in size, dark in complexion and has an Afro hairstyle. Since both are very passionate in boxing, they work out at the Boy’s Club or in the gym and run every day along the East River Drive. Also, both of them have a collection of Fight magazines, scrapbook which contains “torn-tickets” and “clippings”.

Now Antonio and Felix are participating in the division finals in which the winner will represent the Boy's Club in the Golden Gloves Championship Tournament. As the final is approaching, there develops a wall between Antonio and Felix. One day Felix tells Antonio that he is worried about their fight. He even wants to win, “fair and square”. Antonio replies that once they enter into the ring, they will be like professional boxers who do not give importance to friendship. Felix suggests him that it will be better if they do not see each other till the match. Antonio also agrees. After they part, Tony, who is on the roof of his building, plans to knock out Felix as early as possible. On the other hand, Felix goes to watch a movie named The Champion for getting relaxation and not to think about Antonio. But the movie is about a boxing match which disturbs Felix. He worries whether the match will strain his friendship with Antonio. Like Antonio, he also plans to do a quick “knockout in the first round”. On the day of their match, Tompkins Square, where the match is scheduled, is filled with crowds.

Finally, the match starts. As the first round begins, Antonio and Felix are in a “fighting pose”. Felix approaches Antonio very fastly with his “head low”, “half-hunched toward his right shoulder” and kicks out with a straight left. Then he tries to give a "right cross". But Antonio slips to avoid his attack, and strikes back with “three lefts” which blow down Felix's head. In order to avoid Antonio's attacks, Felix bobs and weaves. Still Antonio is able to give “two lefts” to Felix's head. Thus both of them cannot do the knock out which they have planned earlier.

In the second round, Felix attacked Antonio first by giving a “hard right” to Antonio's head. Immediately, Antonio countered back by giving “lefts and rights” to Felix. As Antonio advances, Felix again bobs and weaves. In order to counter, Felix pretends that he is attacking Antonio with his left shoulder but attacks with his right. Both of them are not giving up.

In the third and final round, Antonio advances and gives lots of punches to Felix. Felix also attacks him back. Thus both of them are attacking each other. Seeing this, the crowd stuns. No one is uttering anything. There is silence everywhere. Even the referee cannot comprehend what is going on. Finally, that round ends. But the boxers do not know these. They are continuing their fight. The referee and the two trainers have to come for separating them. When they understand that the match is over, they hug each other and move out of the ring together. They do not care about the result. For them, their friendship is more valuable. As the announcer declares the result, there is no one in the ring.

Important links to other chapters in unit 1 and unit 2