it turns bad.” The traffic streamed back and forth on Cliff Drive above them. “My mom makes me feel crazy. She won’t let me go outside on my own. She thinks I’m going to run away or take drugs. But I never do those things. And she makes me go with her to sell Albin stuff door-to-door.” She turned to him. “I don’t want to always do that. I want to see my friends. I want to live a normal life.” Tears were running down her cheeks. “She knew how much I wanted to be in the parade. I’ve wanted to be in the Fiesta Parade since I was a little girl. She stopped me just to be mean!” She looked at him somberly. “What’s wrong with my mom?”
        “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe someone was mean to her when she was young. Maybe she’s punishing you for what others did to her. Maybe she thinks you’re getting too independent and might leave her.”
        “I think that’s it,” she agreed. “But I can’t take it anymore.”
        They were silent, then Mike said, “Okay, I’m gonna go. You sure I can’t take you to Luz’s house?”
        She stared vacantly. “What’s gonna happen to her? Who’s gonna take care of her if I leave?”
        He considered this, wondering how his own life had become so entangled in such an impossible situation.
        “I don’t know.”
        After another pause, he said, “I’m leaving. What are you gonna do?”
        “I’m staying here.”
        As he drove away, he saw her in the rear-view mirror standing motionless. He was still unsure if he was doing the right thing. He kept imagining Simpática rushing at Maya and stabbing her when she returned to the apartment. He couldn’t imagine returning to such a bleak, depressing place.

END