Dominoes

Dominoes Summary | Detailed Summary

"Dominoes" is Jack Agueros' short story of Puerto Rican culture as exhibited by a game of dominoes played by four men, Ebarito, Paco, Tito and Wilson, in Spanish Harlem in New York City.

The narration describes the dominoes playing style of each of the men involved in the game. Each of the men has a personal playing habit that unnerves one or more of the others and that may be used as a tactic to disturb the concentration of the opponents. Ebarito, in particular, likes to hold six dominoes in his left hand but wishes he could hold all seven at once.

As the men continue to play, Paco begins to emerge as the winner, a fact that incenses the extremely competitive Ebarito. Ebarito finishes his beer but declines another one because the others will not drink with him. Paco's niece, Alma, watches the dominoes game from an upstairs window in which she perches to watch the world go by. Alma prefers playing cards to dominoes, although her uncle tried to teach her to play one night when Alma's old boyfriend stood her up for a date. Alma knows that although her uncle did not mention it, this was his way of providing some comfort for her on a difficult night. Alma is half waiting for her new boyfriend, Pee Wee, to come walking down the street to offer to take her to a movie or just out for a walk in Central Park, but Pee Wee does not show up.

The story moves back to the dominoes game, which Paco has won. The men decide to play again, and Ebarito is displeased with his hand. Wilson comments on Ebarito's bad hand, and Ebarito reminds Wilson that the game was "invented by a mute," which is Paco's signal to be quiet.

Ebarito secretly consoles himself that his prowess is with women and his barbershop, not this game with these men. Ebarito's hand reveals three doubles, otherwise known as "La caja de muerto," or "the dead man's box," and Ebarito knows that he cannot win this hand. Ebarito tells himself that he needs to exhibit good sportsmanship and bow out gracefully, but his pride will not allow him to do that.

The play continues, and Alma's attention is once again focused on the dominoes game by the sound of someone slapping a domino onto the wooden board with great force. The tension among the men increases as mild-mannered Tito accuses Ebarito of cheating. Paco also accuses Ebarito of inappropriate behavior, and immediately Ebarito stands, picks up the metal milk crate on which he was sitting and knocks it into Paco's head.

Paco is able to gain control of the milk crate and pushes it into Ebarito's chest, pushing Ebarito backwards and making him lose his balance. Soon Paco is on top of Ebarito, choking his throat in a death grip. Wilson interrupts Tito's attempt to break up the fight, and the two men watch Paco and Ebarito struggle on the ground. As Paco repeatedly knocks Ebarito's head against the sidewalk, Ebarito pulls thinning shears from his pocket and stabs Paco in the rib cage again and again. Still, Tito and Wilson stand by and watch.

From Alma's perch in her window, she suddenly spots Pee Wee, who is yelling and motioning wildly toward the fight at the scene of the dominoes game. When Alma realizes what is happening, she screams for help, but all in the area seem paralyzed. Pee Wee regains his senses and runs toward a phone booth, and Alma runs out of her building and toward the men still struggling on the ground.

Wilson still restrains Tito from intervening in the fight, admonishing Tito that Paco and Ebarito are "machos" and that "they know what they want." The sight of Alma pulling at her uncle Paco finally gives Tito the strength he needs to break away from Wilson and kick the scissors out of Ebarito's hand.

When Paco stands up, he thinks for a moment that Ebarito is dead, but he moves away from the scene by staggering a few steps. Seemingly unaware of the blood gushing from his twelve stab wounds, Paco walks a few steps more before collapsing dead on the sidewalk. Alma is overwrought with shock and screams, "You killed him, you let him be killed, you killers."

Ebarito is taken to a hospital, where he awakens after surgery to hear the doctor telling him that he is lucky to be alive. The doctor informs Ebarito that his trachea is cracked and that there has been severe damage done to his vocal chords. The extent of Ebarito's injuries means that he will probably never speak again. At best, he can make some growling sounds. One eye may be blinded, but it will be a few weeks before the diagnosis can be made for sure. Ebarito tries to point to his mouth to indicate that he needs water, but he finds that his left arm is shackled to the bed.