Catch the Moon by Judith Ortiz Cofer traces the events in the life of a young boy, Luis Cintron, who is in a juvenile detention center as a result of his mischievous behavior. The story was published in Cofer’s 1995 collection of short stories, ‘An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio.

Catch The Moon | Summary

Catch the Moon by Judith Ortiz Cofer is the story of a young boy, Luis Cintron, who is released from a juvenile jail. He is put in juvenile jail for breaking into an old lady’s house on a dare, she has a million cats and is good with her aluminum cane. Luis has a scar on his head to prove it.

Luis works at his father’s garage, Jorge Cintron & Son, Auto Parts and Salvage. He is given the duty of washing and polishing every hubcap in the yard. Luis has been a troublemaker since he started high school two years ago. This was primarily because of the social group, Tiburones,” that he organized. The group consisted of a bunch of guys who were into harassing local authorities for doing something dangerous just to prove that they could do it.

Luis has a black t-shirt with a killer shark painted on it, with jaws opened wide and dripping with blood. However, his father disapproves of the t-shirt logo, calling it vulgar and disgusting. Mr. Cintron prides himself on his elegant sense of style and his manners and vocabulary, which are a result of the correspondence classes. Luis thinks that this was his father’s way of staying busy after the death of his mother three years ago.

While all this was going through Luis’s head, he slid down the hill of hubcaps and heard the car honk. And Luis watched Naomi get out of a vintage Volkswagen Bug. She waits for his father, Mr. Cintron, while Luis stares at her. Marvelling at her beauty, Luis feels dizzy. Naomi has lost a wheel cover, and since her car is old, it’s not an easy task to find a similar match for her car. Luis follows his father, who points out every detail of the hubcap. Naomi, in a hurry to leave, takes out a piece of paper from the handbag and draws a hubcap along with her home address, telephone number, and parent’s office number.

Naomi reveals that her mother is the director of the Ramirez funeral home. Mr. Cintron has a sudden change of expression as he remembers the day of his wife’s burial. Naomi leaves the place, her shining gold bracelets flashing in the sun. On hearing about the funeral home, Luis recalls the sad memories of his mother passing away in the hospital room while his father was away for coffee. Luis tries to remember whether the black girl who didn’t try to talk to him like others did on the funeral day was Naomi.

Further, Luis grabs the drawing from his father and climbs up on his hubcap hill, trying to study Naomi’s sketch. He washes hubcaps but does not come across a small silver bowl that would fit the Volkswagen. Tired of working all day instead of enjoying summer, Luis decides to go out and asks his father to lend him the car keys. However, he didn’t receive an answer. After a while, Mr. Cintron hands him a polished set of car keys, and Luis leaves while his father keeps looking at him with sad, patient eyes.

Luis was meant to ride around the old barrio to see if he found the Tiburones hanging out at the El Building. However, Luis parks his car in front of the Ramirez funeral home, which was the last place his mother visited. Thinking of memories of his deceased mother, Luis cries with his head placed on the steering wheel of his father’s car.

He realizes he has been observed by Naomi. Luis walks up to the window where Naomi sat with a pad and pencil on her lap, and she holds up the sketch pad on which she had drawn him as if he were sitting on top of a mountain of silver discs. Luis informs Naomi that he will be back and drives to the junkyard to sort the wheel cover by make, size, and condition. He realized why his father was busy in the junkyard all the time. He finally finds the moon-shaped wheel cover, which is a match for Naomi’s drawing.

Having washed and polished the Volkswagen hubcap, Luis drives to the funeral home. With gravel in his pocket, Luis climbs the oak tree to the second floor in front of Naomi’s window. He hangs the silver disc on the branch and throws the gravel at her window for Naomi to notice. He holds on to the branch and waits for her to give him the first good thing that he has given anyone in a long time.

Catch The Moon | Analysis 

 The story is written from a third-person limited point of view, where the narrator describes events as the protagonist, Luis, experiences and perceives them. Thus, providing the readers with an insight into the thoughts and feelings of Luis. The story is set in a car junkyard owned by Jorge Cintron, the father of Luis and owner of Jorge Cintron & Son, Auto Parts, and Salvage.

 Luis indirectly compares the car junkyard to a “steel jungle”. He has been described as a troublemaker since he started high school and organized a social group called ‘Tiburones’. The group was harassing local authorities by doing something dangerous and proving that they could do it, which signifies the immaturity of the group. Luis did not feel remorse for his actions, and he explained to Mr. Williams about the cultural activities that the group had put on.

 On the other hand, Mr. Cintron prides himself on his style of dressing, which is described as elegant, and his manners and a large vocabulary, which he has picked up through correspondence courses. It signifies the need for belongingness that Hispanics usually face in America.

 Luis and his father are often caught thinking about or reliving memories of his deceased mother, who died of cancer. The protagonist finds himself awe-struck by the beauty of Naomi, whom he describes as the “most beautiful girl”, standing in the sunlight in her “white sundress” with skin like “mahogany, almost black” and arms and legs that were “long and thin”. He compares her to a ballerina.

 Mr. Cintron assures Naomi that his son will find the matching pair of hubcaps from a pile of caps that Luis is supposed to wash and polish. However, Luis thinks his father is crazy. Naomi reminds the father-son duo of a nice young woman, almost like his wife when she was Naomi’s age.

 Further, we come across the transition of Luis, who takes practice Frisbee shots before showing his rows of shiny rings drying in the sun. Luis’s father is described as having a deep sense of admiration and love for his deceased wife. He preserves her memories, like the utensils she owned, in the cabinet. It symbolizes that they haven’t gotten over her death.

 Luis’s mother is described as a kind, loving, and generous woman who never said anything negative about anyone and always blamed fate for whatever went wrong. While he is crying in his father’s car, Naomi watches him but does not laugh, which symbolizes that she encourages him to express his feelings openly. She acts as a source of motivation for him to transition into a young adult.

 Luis finds the perfect moon-shaped cover for her card, which is almost equivalent to a Cinderella shoe for him. Thereafter, the story progresses with him as a responsible individual. The cyclical nature of the story is revealed when it begins with Luis sitting on a pile of hubcaps and ends with him handing a hubcap to a free man.

Catch The Moon | Character Sketch 

Luis Cintron is the protagonist of the story Catch the Moon by Judith Ortiz Cofer. As the central character of the story, he plays a significant role in driving the action of the plot, and his character develops throughout the narrative. Hence, Luis can be described as a dynamic and round character, as his experiences and interactions shape his growth and transformation. He is portrayed as a troublemaker, as he finds himself in a juvenile detention center due to his mischievous behavior. 

Following his release, Luis is legally obliged to work in his father’s junkyard, which catalyzes his personal development. The strained relationship between Luis and his father, Mr. Cintron, adds to the depth of his character, highlighting his need to connect with his father and find a sense of belongingness in the absence of his mother. The readers find Luis deeply fond of his deceased mother, as he frequently relives her memories or contemplates her absence. Additionally, his love for Naomi plays a significant role in Luis’s transition from an immature young boy to an adult. She becomes a source of motivation and action for Luis. Thus, the story captures his journey of personal growth and his path to self-discovery and identity.

Catch The Moon | Title

 The title ‘Catch the Moon stands for the moon-shaped wheel cover for Naomi’s car. It was almost impossible to find the perfect match for her vintage car. However, Luis transitions from thinking his father is crazy to looking for a hubcap to finding it in a pile of discs, which signifies his transformation into a young, responsible adult. He understands the treasure hunt that kept his father busy all day and that doing something that has a beginning, middle, and end brings a certain satisfaction. Hence, the title represents Luis’s determination for Naomi’s drawing and her car, in an attempt to win her love.

Catch The Moon | Themes

Through the story, the central theme of Luis’s transition from a mischievous boy to a responsible young adult is captured. The author explores the transformative journey of personal growth and maturity. Luis is described as mischievous and was in a juvenile detention center due to his behavior. He is portrayed as aimless and engaging in poor choices. 

  The relationship between Naomi and Luis is a catalyst for his growth and development. He is determined to find the perfect match for her drawing which is a moon-shaped cover. He is motivated to leave the troubled past behind and work responsibly in his father’s car junkyard. The memories of his deceased mother also serve to give him a sense of purpose. The story highlights the capacity for growth and changes through the character of Luis, highlighting an individual’s willpower to embrace a fulfilling future.

Catch The Moon | Literary Devices

Cofer makes use of literary devices like imagery and symbolism in her story ‘Catch the Moon, which adds thematic depth and layers of meaning to the narrative.

One significant instance of symbolism is observed when Luis thinks of his father as lonely, polishing utensils that he no longer uses. Since these utensils were handpicked by his wife, they were like relics to him after her passing. It represents the sentimental value attached to the utensils and Mr. Cintron’s enduring love for his wife: 

“They were just kept in cabinets that his father had turned into museums for her”. 

 The utensils, like dishes, forks, and spoons, symbolize Mr. Cintron’s love for his wife and the desire to preserve her memories.

 Additionally, the author uses vivid visual imagery to describe the character of Naomi in the junkyard: She is like a smooth wood carving. Her skin was like mahogany, almost black, and her arms and legs were long and thin”, which brings a sense of life, beauty, and grace to her character. Further, Cofer employs imagery to describe the aging of Mr. Cintron; when Luis observes his father, he notices the transformation in hair color from “shiny black” to “gray”, as well as the “presence of deep lines in his face”, portraying a visual representation of his father’s aging process.