A red betta swims around its tank on the countertop, circling past a microwave on the left and a half-eaten package of Oreos to the right. From across the room, Yaretzi, 7, declares: “His name is Bruce.”
Her mom repeats the name, rolling the “r” with her Honduran accent. “Brrrrrruce,” Vicky Chavez says. Yaretzi tries to mimic her. “Baaar,” she sputters.
Chavez was explaining why her holiday gift to Yaretzi can’t be a panda: “You already have a fish to take care of, mi corazón.” She proposes a cat. Yaretzi shakes her head; she thinks a cat would eat Bruce.