The narrator recounts his experience in prison, where he learns that "mexican got on boots" is a signal for a potential riot. He tries to understand the meaning and asks various inmates for help, including finding a knife to protect himself. He meets a man named Cece who agrees to make him a knife, but ultimately sells it to someone else for a higher price. The narrator then receives advice from another inmate, Mitch, on how to fight in a riot, including using a "rock and lean" technique. However, when the riot breaks out, the narrator forgets the technique and gets cut by a Mexican inmate who wasn't even wearing boots.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator is in prison.
2. A fellow inmate tells the narrator that "Mexican got on boots," which is a signal that a riot is about to start.
3. The narrator doesn't understand the signal and asks others for clarification.
4. A seasoned inmate named Cece offers to sell the narrator a knife for protection.
5. Cece shows the narrator a selection of knives and explains their features.
6. The narrator chooses a pen-top knife, which is a knife disguised as a pen.
7. Another inmate, Mitch, teaches the narrator how to fight in a riot, including how to defend against metal-tipped boots.
8. The narrator practices a "rock and lean" move to prepare for the riot.
9. Cece steals the narrator's knife and sells it to another inmate for a higher price.
10. The narrator gets cut in the riot because he doesn't have a knife and forgets the "rock and lean" move.
11. The narrator is cut by a Mexican inmate who is not wearing boots.
12. There are 3,000 people on the prison unit where the narrator is housed.