Maya's Bus Trip

The bus trip that Maya takes while the family waits for news about Max symbolizes her need to escape and find her identity. The trip takes Maya much father than she would have driven herself, but it does not provide any answers. It is the bus to nowhere.

Maya's House in New Jersey

The house that Maya lives in with Alex and Max in New Jersey symbolizes a prison for her. In it, she is not free to be her true self, and thus she is sad and wants to leave. This is the message Max picks up from her and why he takes the city bus instead of coming home after school. Max is doing what Maya is afraid to do.

Rodeo

When Laurel says not to let her baby do rodeo, she is using rodeo to symbolize not letting her baby be...