89. «Camilo», de Shirley Jackson

The Story of Lorenzo and Camilo

Introduction to Characters

• The story introduces Lorenzo, a contemporary American character, who is starting third grade. His mother, Mariana, feels happy seeing him grow.

• Lorenzo's first day at school is marked by excitement; he greets his mother cheerfully after school but shares little about his day.

School Dynamics

• On the second day, Lorenzo mentions Camilo's misbehavior in class, highlighting a pattern of trouble that intrigues Mariana.

• Camilo's antics escalate as he throws an eraser at a classmate and faces consequences from the teacher. This raises concerns for Mariana regarding Camilo’s influence on her son.

Parental Concerns

• Mariana worries about the negative impact Camilo might have on Lorenzo since she does not know him or his family well.

• As weeks pass, Camilo's behavior becomes a frequent topic in their household discussions. Even minor mischief by Lorenzo draws comparisons to Camilo.

Changes Over Time

• After a month of school, there are signs of improvement in Camilo’s behavior; he even helps distribute materials in class.

• Despite some positive changes, Camilo reverts to bad behavior again, which frustrates both Mariana and Lorenzo.

Parental Involvement

• Determined to understand more about Camilo, Mariana plans to meet with teachers during parent-teacher meetings but struggles to locate him.

• At the meeting, the teacher reassures Mariana about Lorenzo’s adaptation and progress in school despite initial challenges.