TRASH CHAPTER SUMMERIES

Part 1
Chapter 1
Chapter one introduces the reader to the main character,
Raphael Fernandez. Raphael, a fourteen year old dumpsite
boy narrates this part of the story and it entails many
interesting ideas about the Behala dumpsite. Raphael and
his best friend Gardo spend their days searching the
endless amounts of rubbish that cover acres of land. They
live knee deep in trash along with many others, including
children. We find out that most families start their
children trash searching as soon as they can walk.
Raphael describes himself as a trash boy with style
(p.6). This implies that Raphael may be a bit better off
than others around him even if he is not a normal boy who
has a house, food, and family, he is special and is
determined to get somewhere in life.
Nearing the end of the chapter Raphael leaves the reader
wondering as he says, maybe one day youll find
something nice. Oh yes. Then one day I did (p.5). What
Raphael finds will change his life forever but what it is
that he finds, the reader will just have to wait and see.
Chapter 2
Raphaels unlucky-lucky day (p.7) begins at the start
of chapter two. This is the day that turns his life and
many others upside down. As Gardo, Raphaels best buddy,
and Raphael are searching through trash, glorious trash
they come across an untouched delivery under a belt .
Using their hooks both boys rummage through stupp (human
waste) and rubbish, stupp, rubbish until Raphael uncovers
a small leather bag, zipped up tight and covered in
coffee-grounds (p.8). Unzipping it they find it to
contain a wallet with eleven hundred pesos, a photo of a
young school girl, an ID card and inside a folded map, a
key. Keeping six hundred for himself, Raphael gives Gardo
five hundred and they continue searching through the
trash so as not to draw attention to themselves. Later on
they discover that Jose Angelico from Green Hills is the
owner of the bag and on the key there is the number 101
on both sides, mysterious. Raphael is the most excited of
the two as he thinks, With the right key, you can bust
the door wide open (p.9). Raphael seems to understand
the potential to open new doors of opportunity in his
life.
Chapter 3
Its the evening after Raphaels amazing discovery and
the two boys spirits are high. Raphael gave some of the
money to his auntie and they have chicken for dinner,
a rarity. Everyones happily gathered around the fire
until big, black cars turn into the dirty streets of
Behala and fierce looking policemen step out.
Chapter Three informs the reader that the police are
after the bag Raphael found. The men want the bag now and
they are not afraid to fight for it, so they agree to pay
the dumpsite people one hundred pesos a day in searching
for the bag. After trying to get something out of the
people without success they are lead to believe that
Raphael has something as his auntie told them he had
found money that day.
Raphael lied as the police asked him questions and got
out of trouble, this time, but Gardo and Raphael expect
the worst and decide to take the bag to their friend Jun-
Jun, better known as Rat, for safe keeping. The reader is
lead to believe that Rat is trustworthy and a close
friend as Raphael says, Hell do it for me (p.18).
This is just the start of how the three boys lead
themselves into a fight for their lives
Chapter 4
Raphael tells the reader after visiting Rats house,
It might seem crazy asking a kid if you can come into
his hole, but this hole was about the only thing Rat
had (p.21). After quite an adventure through the
dumpsite Raphael and Gardo arrive at Rats house and are
not disappointed, for he agrees to take the bag, for only
50 pesos. They talk some more, asking Rat his opinion on
the other items in the bag, beside the money, and they
discover that Rat knows some very important and
valuable information, such as when he says, This is a
locker key for left luggage Central Station You
wanna go there? We go there now if you want. (p.26). For
just 50 pesos, Rat informs them that he can take them to
the station and unlock a part of the mystery!
Extra Info:
Rat lives in a hole that the author expresses is an
unused belt machinery hole. Imagine living in a deep,
dark hole, full of rats I dont think that would be the
kind of lifestyle I would enjoy. Doing some research
about dumpsites I found these pictures of what Rats
house and area could look like. (see pictures above)
Chapter 5
The police come again to Behala the next day and hundreds
of dumpsite people search through special deliveries from
Green Hills. Up and down the mountains of trash, peoples
everyday lives continue under the sharp eyes of the
police. Of course no bag is found and the
police reluctantly pay all the people before racing off
back into town. Gardo, Raphael and Rat are relieved but
decide that it is important that they get to the locket
as soon as they can. The boys discuss the matter, Not
dealing with the fact that if the police think youve got
something, they wont stop till theyve got it from you.
(p.35) Raphael is in deep danger.
Chapter 6
This chapter is full exciting events as the three boys,
Rat, Gardo and Raphael go to Central station. It
took Raphael at lot of pleading to get Gardo into the
plan but he manages it and with Rats they adventure out
of Behala. Jumping onto a pasting train they arrive at
the station. That part of their plan was one of
the easiest as once on the platform they come across the
station boys who dont like other boys to be in their
territory. Lucky for Gardo and Raphael, Rat had lived
at the station before coming to Behala and got around the
station boys by giving them 90 pesos.
The Three continue on their mission and decide that it
would be best if Rat does the locker while the others
keep on the lookout for station guards or police. Raphael
is quite scared by the experience, I hadnt liked the
look of the station boys, but now- everywhere I looked I
could see mean looking railway guards. p.40. Gardo again
shows great protection over Raphael while they are at the
station. Only passing a few people in the lockers hall,
Rat successful gets into the locker and finds a package
in it. Quickly they get back onto the platform and off
onto the tracks, running until they are in the bushes and
bramble. They did it! Inside the package the boys found a
letter addressed to Gabriel Olondriz a prisoner. And
along with they letter a series of numbers. Raphael
is relieved to get back in Behala, but he is worried
about what they are getting into, All we were sure of
was that we were in something deep, getting deeper.
p.43. The boys are in this together, what ever happens.

Part 2
Chapter 1
Part two of Trash, introduces another narrator, Father
Juilliard. He takes up the story telling the reader about
the mission school in Behala. Father Julliard describes
Pascal Aguila Mission School as the place he has fallen
in love with, after serving his one-year job he couldnt
leave the small school and is still working there at
sixty-three. He tells the reader that it is hard to get
the dumpsite kids to attend the school. The only way is
to bribe them with food. Made out of large iron
containers the school is two-story, with a chapel on the
upper level.
When Rat, Rapheal and Gardo come to the mission school
wanting to use the computer, Father Juilliard is
oblivious to the fact that he would soon get involved in
their dangerous adventure. The boys use the donated
computer to research Gabriel Olondriz wanting to know
more about what happened to him. Father Juilliard tells
the reader, They had got they wanted, and had deceived
me beautifully. (p.54) Will he ever be safe again?
Chapter 2
This is where Raphaels adventure starts getting scary.
The police come to the dumpsite that night, just as Gardo
predicted and all the locals were cleared from their
houses. Making thorougher search of the cardboard
buildings the police have no luck in finding what they
want and Raphael is arrested. This causes great commotion
amongst his family, however the police force their way
through the human barrier that has been created and take
Raphael to Ermita Police Station. Though Raphael portrays
himself as innocent the police believe he has the bag
they want. Beating him they ask over and over for the bag
but Raphael continuously denies knowing anything. This
frightful experience only gets worse as they hang Raphael
out the window and hold him there by his ankle and wrist.
More harsh words are thrown at the poor boy but the
police do not get any useful information and finally let
him free. Raphael runs madly back towards the dumpsite.