Any Small Goodness

As Arturo admits, Los Angeles is a complicated setting. Its associations with fame and movie-star glamor underscore the tension that often exists between appearance and true character. Johnston communicates this idea initially through Papi, whose humility encourages a unique understanding of human nature. “When no eyes are upon him, that is a person’s true test” (36), Papi says, introducing a valuable concept that Arturo will continue to apply throughout the novel. 

As he matures, Arturo learns to never make assumptions, helping him probe beyond deceptive appearances. For instance, when Officer Paster and his partner first arrive in the aftermath of the shooting, Arturo greets them coolly, put off by their badges and uniforms. He admits that he’s “angry and untrusting” (99), and he assumes that, like all police, the responding officers will conduct themselves apathetically. However, Arturo is wrong. Officer Paster and his partner “seem to feel the horror” (100), and Arturo realizes that their sympathy is genuine. Ultimately, when Officer Paster replaces Rosie’s lunch box, Arturo joins Papi in his admiration for simple, uncelebrated generosity: “No bigwig’s watching Officer Paster,” Arturo says. “Doesn’t matter. I am” (102). Arturo understands that a stern appearance and poor reputation hardly represent true character.