Answer:
Parents.
Explanation:
The given excerpt is taken from Barrio Boy. Barrio Boy is an autobiography of Ernesto Galarza. The author shares his experience of moving from a small village to a barrio.
The phrase used by the author in the excerpt 'legitimate bosses' is used to refer to someone who is the true head, or rightful owner, or the legal head.
In the given context the author has used the phrase to refer to the parents as the legal head, or rightful owner of a cottage or house are parents.
So, the correct answer is parents.
