Alfredo Victor Batista is a 19 year old Puerto Rican small time drug dealer living in Queens. His partner Winston, a dark-skinned Haitian, wears a spider-man hat - his trade mark - and is a dope head. Alfredo has problems and many worries. His brother Tariq nee Jose is getting out of prison today. He has served 3 years for robbery. A robbery Alfredo was suppose to be involved in, but had a panic attach and didn't go through with it. The neighbors think Alfredo turned Tariq in with the cops. Tariq is really going to be mad. Alfredo has been dating his girlfriend Isabel and she is now 8 months pregnant. How will Tariq react when he learns these details?
Alfredo want to do something nice for Tariq - a welcome home surprise. He could buy him some drugs, but that isn't showing Tariq that he is glad he's home. Maybe a dogfight in Max's basement would be a Good idea - and a pit bull would do nicely. There is one problem - they do not have a dog or another one to fight. Alfredo and Winston canvas the car lots and alleys, but a dog of any breed is not to be found. Tariq comes home and Alfredo tells him about the dogfight. Tariq is successful in stealing a pit bull and the fight is on. The pit bull will fight a German shepherd owned by another dealer. The big night arrives - everyone is ready, placing bet and anticipation is high. After a wait Tariq arrives and the fight begins.
What transpires at the dogfight, the birth of Alfredo's son, and the blackout in New York City makes for a very interesting read. The book is a love story, family turmoil, secrets, prison life, and the conversion of Tariq to Islam. Queens is a hodge podge of a number of nationalities where a polite greeting is fraught with menace and an insult is an impression of tender love.
Burgess is a great writer of contemporary literature. Highly recommended.
