Summary

The author summarizes his mother’s history of feeling separate from her Mexican heritage, partly because she was shamed by her own mother for having a Mexican father. He also describes how she came to find pride in her heritage as the result of wise insight offered by the supervisor of one of her earliest jobs as a park ranger, and how she came to love the land. Finally, he describes her determination to teach her son (the author) to be proud of his heritage.

As he prepares to attend the first meeting between Jose’s family and Elizabeth Green, Jose’s immigration lawyer, the author wonders what his role and purpose are, and then realizes that “this is what friends do” (194). He, Lupe, their pastor, and Diane all gather and meet with Elizabeth who, before the meeting starts, speaks with...