My middle name, Tree, comes from your basic tree, a thing of such beauty to my momther that she made it part of my name. She wanted to be more specific and use Sugar Maple Tree, her very favorite, but Salamanca Sugar Maple Tree Hiddle was a bit much even for her.
-- Sal (Chapter 3 paragraph 13)

Importance: This is a clue about Sugar's attitudes in life. She is a true nature lover and has passed that along to Sal.

For example, I was terrified of car accidents, death, cancer, brain tumors, nuclear war, pregnant women, loud noises, strict teachers, elevators, and scads of other things. But I was not afraid of spiders, snakes, and wasps.
-- Sal (Chapter 3 paragraph 19)

Importance: This is Sal's comment after she removes a bug from a classroom. This act earns her the admiration of others, including Phoebe. But Sal points out that she is afraid of "scads" of other things. It seems that she has...