The House of the Scorpion

El Patrón remains in the hospital. He rambles about his childhood and siblings and listens to Matt play the guitar. Matt’s voice cracks one day, and Celia explains to Matt that he is growing up and that they must celebrate. Matt is disappointed with his new voice, acne, and facial hair. That night, Matt, Tam Lin, and Celia have a private, subdued party in the garden. When Matt asks how old he is, Tam Lin explains that Matt was harvested, not born. Celia insists that Tam Lin not go into details because of the cameras, but Tam Lin shouts that there have been enough secrets and lies. Grabbing Matt by the shirt, Tam Lin explains that clones grow inside cows that are “sacrificed” when it is time for a clone to be harvested. He mourns the way the Alacrán family treats them—“We’re only well treated until we outlive our usefulness” (189). Celia reassures him that this won’t last for long. Tam Lin shoots her a look, telling her that what she is planning is too dangerous. The two begin discussing the hundreds of thousands of dead eejits buried under the poppies.