The House of the Scorpion: Chapter 31 Summary & Analysis

Ton-Ton complains about his pain to the boy in charge of the infirmary, whose name is Luna. Luna is a Keeper-in-training who was once a Lost Boy. Luna tells Matt that all Lost Boys become Keepers eventually, but Matt says there are too many Lost Boys and not enough Keepers for that to be true. Luna and Ton-Ton do not agree with his logic. Ton-Ton tells Matt all about the videogames, television, and pool in the Keepers’ compound. The Keepers also have parties and better food. Matt realizes Ton-Ton may see dumb, but he is actually very observant and very knowledgeable about the factory’s machinery.

Ton-Ton is distressed by the amount of punishment he receives even though he follows all the Keepers’ rules. Luna says Ton-Ton must have done something to receive a beating from Jorge. Matt encourages Ton-Ton to describe in detail the fancy food and dessert the Keepers eat. Matt asks Luna and Ton-Ton if it is fair that the Keepers receive such luxury when the Lost Boys live in scarcity. Luna and Ton-Ton argue that the Keepers have earned their blessings, and one day the Lost Boys will, too.

Luna offers Matt some more laudanum, but he refuses. Luna says he takes the drug often, but Ton-Ton says one is not supposed to get high until they become a Keeper. Matt realizes the Keepers are all abusing drugs every single night, which offers an opportunity for escape. He asks the boys where San Luis is. Ton-Ton is actually from San Luis, but has never thought of returning there. Matt realizes his face is covered in zits and Luna says it is a side effect of working with plankton. Matt realizes the Keepers do not have zits, meaning that the acne comes from eating plankton rather than working with it.

The next day, Jorge makes Matt and Ton-Ton return to work, even though Ton-Ton is still injured. Matt is eager to plan his escape. Matt knows he must somehow shut off the electric fence during the night and then travel the 20 miles to San Luis. He commits to taking Chacho and Fidelito with him but worries about how Fidelito will make the long journey. He realizes friendship is a burden, but he is still grateful to have friends for the first time in his life. He considers blowing up the Keepers, but realizes that would be morally wrong.

Chacho and Matt wait for Ton-Ton to arrive with the shrimp harvester. Chacho hates Ton-Ton for sucking up to the Keepers, but Matt says they need Ton-Ton for their escape plan. Fidelito says his grandma taught him to be kind to the meanest people, because they are the ones who need the most love. Ton-Ton arrives and suspects that the three boys are waiting to beat him up. Matt tells him they just want to be friends. He asks Ton-Ton about San Luis. Ton-Ton says his family used to live there, but everyone, except his grandma, disappeared going over the border.

Ton-Ton tells Matt about how Jorge saved him from the Farm Patrol, so therefore Ton-Ton owes him his life. He will become a Keeper and never go to San Luis to look for his grandmother. Matt then encourages Ton-Ton to describe San Luis in detail. Ton-Ton talks about his large family who lived happily together despite their poverty. Ton-Ton offers to lie and tell the Keepers the harvester broke so the boys will not get in trouble for being late.

Matt tells Chacho that Celia is his mother, because that’s how he thinks of her. He considers Tam Lin to be his father. Suddenly, Matt is overcome with longing for the loved ones of his past life. Chacho empathizes with Matt’s sadness over his lost family because all the Lost Boys are orphaned.