Edison, New Jersey - Junot Diaz

Edison, New Jersey

by Junot Diaz
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"Don't get angry.

I'm tired, that's all.

Tired's the best way to be, he says. It really is."

Edison, New Jersey is a story about an under-privileged man and his friend Wayne who are employees of a moving company. The two of them live their lives with very little excitement and often find their days full of disappointment. For example, the main character's girlfriend leaves him and finds a new man.
He basically does whatever he can to stay positive and make the best out of his days, while exacting revenge on those who wrong him (usually the people whose house he is delivering to). He makes up games with his friend and steals from the people who give him a hard time, always trying to get a little extra wherever he can. I don't blame him for stealing from them, considering his predicament. He leads a rather depressing life with very little going for him.
I interpret this story to mean that when life gets down on you, you need to just keep pushing on and doing whatever you can to maintain a positive attitude. When life gets down on you there is little else you can do other than staying positive and getting enjoyment out of little things, such as silly games with your friends, to keep you going. The two characters in this story exemplify getting by on very little.
Another thing that the main character did to help maintain his happiness and his sanity with the repetition of his everyday life was giving the hired-help of one of the homes he was delivering for a ride to New York. It took him a week and was a serious investment of his time, but he did it because it was a good deed and it helped someone out who he could really see needed the help. He gave her a ride because he wanted someone else to be happy and by making another person happy, it made him happy in turn. That's what I considered this story to be about -- the little things that keep you going and helping others.