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Claudia
Nene is Bodega’s brother. Nene seems to have some form of intellectual disability, as he struggles with adult conversation and mostly talks in song lyrics. Nene is entirely under Bodega’s care, which implies that there aren’t many public resources for people with disabilities in the underfunded neighborhood of Spanish Harlem.
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Nene Character Timeline in Bodega Dreams
The timeline below shows where the character Nene appears in Bodega Dreams. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1, Round 3: Willie Bodega Don’t Sell Rocks. Willie Bodega Sells Dreams.
...called Casablanca nearby. Outside, people are sitting on milk crates and playing dominoes. Bodega’s brother Nene lets them inside, where Bodega sizes Julio up, says it’s good that Julio’s in college,...
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Book 1, Round 4: The Fire This Time
Julio gets up to leave, and jokes around with Nene at the door. Outside, Sapo is upset. He recommended Julio to Bodega, and know he...
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Book 1, Round 6: Que Viva Changó
On the way, they pick up Nene and a live chicken in a box (a religious offering from Bodega for Doña Ramonita)....
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Book 1, Round 8: No Pets Allowed
...Street and Third Avenue, where Bodega is holding court in one of his many apartments. Nene answers the door and tells them to wait. Bodega is talking with Nazario about a...
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...relieved—the less he knows about street business, the better. Julio excuses himself and chats with Nene at the door. Nene isn’t too bright, and he mostly talks in nonsensical song lyrics....
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Book 2, Round 1: My Growing Up and All that Piri Thomas Kinda Crap
...Claudia next Friday, and she expects Julio to be there. Suddenly, the phone rings: it’s Nene, reminding Julio that Vera is arriving tomorrow. Julio decides then and there that this will...
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Book 2, Round 8: As Long As Latino Kills Latino We’ll Always Be a Little People
...a school for immigrant children when this is all over. Julio agrees distractedly, wondering if Nene was the one who killed Salazar. Julio decides that Bodega did what he had to:...
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Book 3, Eulogy: Pa’lante, Siempre Pa’lante
...and grab Nazario, leading him to a squad car. The police also arrest Vera and Nene, who’s sad and confused. Nazario, unfazed, shouts back to Julio to tell Sapo to get...
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