Summary

In “We Had Our Childhood--Xqabán cho qaha’lak’uniil,” Claudia is thirteen years old though she looks and acts like a 10-year-old. Sindy has married a man twice her age. Claudia’s next-door neighbors, Cynthia and Lyzette, like to play together because they all speak Spanish. One day, after Mamá forbids Claudia from playing in their pool, she accidentally falls in with her bike. Distraught and apologetic, Claudia runs home crying. Mamá laughs and tells her to go back and play in the pool.

In the next chapter, “Middle School,” Claudia enters Nimitz Middle School and Consuelo enters Bell High School. Claudia worries about her limited English. At school, Claudia is intimidated by the much older-looking girls in makeup and tight clothes. At nutrition (recess), Claudia runs to the bathroom, where she meets a girl named Annette. Annette becomes her best friend...