Summary

Papi speaks mainly in Spanglish, but he is able to understand numerous variations of English and Spanish as the building’s superintendent. Everyone loves Papi, especially because he knows how to sing songs from Puerto Rico which idealize the place. Maria explains her father sings of a place that exists only in the dreams of the immigrants. Maria misses Puerto Rico, but does her best to forget her sadness by hanging out with Whoopee. Whoopee is bright, optimistic, outgoing, and not afraid to give her opinion on things. For example, she makes it a point to wishes curses upon a woman who beats her child. However, Whoopee does not believe she is beautiful, even though Maria thinks she is. Whoopee reminds Maria of the kind of woman Frida Kahlo would paint.

For Maria’s birthday, Dona Segura...