Act 2, Scene 9:

This last scene is the best scene out of the entire play. At the beginning of it, it was chaotic. Everyone was talking to Henry at the same time. I hated that part but it kind of reminded me of my family conversations. We sometimes all talk at once, if it’s when we need to know something, or tell a person something. Even if they are talking with someone we need to get that piece of information in there, we find a way.
The ending of the play I enjoyed. Valdez is letting us pick our own ending to the play. He starts off with what the press said and El Pachuco or the narrator of the play says,

“That’s the way you see it, ese. But there are other ways to end this story,” on pg. 94.

On pg. 94, also when Enrique tells him not to go and has Henry by force, Henry is about to strike his dad but then thinks of his action and what it would do to the family.

“The realization that if he strikes back or even if he walks out that door, the family bond is irreparably broken.”

This shows how each Mexican, Chicano, or almost every Latino family has a close bond, but once a son or daughter brings trouble or shame on that family pride that we have as Latinos would not let us forgive them. Yes, the time may pass and the person is forgiven but that bond would never be the same. This was back in the days now I think we have become more be lenient unless the family is really traditional.
Henry chose to keep that strong family bond because that’s what helped him survive and that’s what we all sometimes need is our family.

Question: Instead of ending this story with a happy ending, Valdez creates problems just as Henry gets out of jail. Why do you think Valdez does this and what ending did you conclude from this play?