Summary

Eighteen-year old Casiopea lives in the small town of Uukumil and is forced to work for her abusive and bitter grandfather, Cirilio. She believes that God does not care about her, as he took her father away which forced her and her mother into Cirillio’s house. However, she hopes her grandfather will keep his promise of an inheritance once he passes as he is getting weaker by the day. One day, her cruel cousin Martín sends her to the butcher and refuses to let her change out of her servant clothes. She refuses to fight, to his disappointment, and leaves.

The narrator explains that a Governor gave women the right to vote, but was later executed for his Mayan beliefs and that right was revoked. Despite it being 1927, the revolution changed nothing in Uukumil and the women have no freedom...