Diego did not like his name. It was a Spanish name, but Diego didn’t even speak Spanish. People always assumed he did though. In fact, Diego wasn’t even Hispanic! Diego also didn’t like it because it didn’t sound cool. Diego wanted to change his name to something like Brandon or Brock.

Diego told his parents that he wanted to change his name. His parents were furious. “This is the name we gave you. By changing it, you’re going against our wishes,” his mom said. His dad said, “Why don’t you just tell people to call you something else? Don’t legally change it though.” Diego felt that if he did that, people would just ignore him and continue calling him Diego.

Diego tried what his parents suggested. At school, he told his friends and teachers to call him Brock. His friends laughed at him and asked him why. His teachers were okay with it, but they kept calling him Diego accidentally. Since Diego was already 13, it was hard for people who had known him for a long time to call him by any other name.

Vocabulary Words

1. Furious – very angry
   Example: His parents were furious when he said he wanted to change his name.
2. Assume – to think something is true without proof
   Example: People always assumed Diego spoke Spanish.
3. Hispanic – relating to Spanish-speaking people or culture
   Example: Diego wasn’t even Hispanic.
4. Cool – stylish or impressive
   Example: Diego didn’t like his name because it didn’t sound cool.
5. Legally – according to the law
   Example: His dad told him not to legally change his name.
6. Ignore – to not pay attention to someone or something
   Example: Diego thought people would ignore his request.
7. Continue – to keep doing something
   Example: People would continue calling him Diego.
8. Suggest – to give an idea or advice
   Example: Diego’s parents suggested he use a different name at school.
9. Accidentally – not on purpose
   Example: The teachers kept calling him Diego accidentally.
10. Wishes – desires or hopes
    Example: His mom said changing his name went against their wishes.
11. Friends – people you like and spend time with
    Example: Diego told his friends to call him Brock.
12. Teachers – people who teach at school
    Example: His teachers tried to call him Brock.
13. Laugh – to make sounds of amusement
    Example: His friends laughed at him when he asked for a new name.
14. Hard – difficult to do
    Example: It was hard for people to call him by another name.
15. Change – to make something different
    Example: Diego wanted to change his name.
16. Against – not supporting something
    Example: His parents said changing his name was against their wishes.
17. Sound – the way something is heard
    Example: Diego thought his name didn’t sound cool.
18. Call – to use a name for someone
    Example: Diego wanted his teachers to call him Brock.
19. Parents – a mother or father
    Example: Diego told his parents he wanted to change his name.
20. Name – a word a person is known by
    Example: Diego did not like his name.

Comprehension Questions

1. Why didn’t Diego like his name?
2. What language did people assume Diego could speak?
3. Was Diego Hispanic?
4. What names did Diego want instead of his own?
5. How did Diego’s parents feel when he said he wanted to change his name?
6. What did Diego’s dad suggest instead of legally changing his name?
7. Why didn’t Diego like his dad’s suggestion?
8. What new name did Diego ask people to call him at school?
9. How did Diego’s friends react when he told them his new name?
10. How did the teachers react to his new name?
11. Did the teachers always remember to call him Brock?
12. Why was it hard for people to call him a different name?
13. How old was Diego in the story?
14. What reason did his mom give for not changing his name?
15. Who gave Diego his name originally?
16. What did Diego want his name to “sound” like?
17. Did Diego’s friends respect his wish for a new name?
18. Why did Diego’s teachers call him Diego accidentally?
19. What did Diego think people would do if he asked them to use another name?
20. What was the main problem Diego faced in the story?