significance of Conch Shells

Conch shells are collected by the hundreds by Graciela beginning from the time she is a child. The hobby becomes incredibly important to her, as the shells serve not only as memories of the past but as a symbolic place for Graciela to hide her sadness and her pain as well. When Celeste leaves to return to Chile, Graciela gives Celeste her first conch shell so that Celeste too may hide her pain and sorrows.