How could she be happy or grateful when she
had never been more miserable in her life?
<
When Esperanza opened her eyes again, it was al-
most light and she heard Mama, Hortensia, and
Alfonso talking in the next room. She had slept
through dinner and the entire night. She smelled
café and chorizo. The coffee and sausage made her
stomach growl and she tried to remember when
she had last eaten. Isabel was still asleep in the
bed next to hers so Esperanza quietly pulled on a
long wrinkled skirt and white blouse. She brushed
her hair and went into the other room.
“Good morning,” said Mama. “Sit down and
eat something. You must be starved.”
At the table, Hortensia patted her hand. “You
missed going to the foreman’soffice last night. We
signed the papers to live here. We already have
work today.”
Mama put a plate of tortillas, eggs, and sausage
in front of her.