A Dream Called Home

Reyna recalls the birth of her son. Although she desperately wants her mother in the delivery room, Mago is the only one by her side. After a difficult labor with no epidural, she gives birth to Nathaniel (Nathan), named after her father, Natalio. The baby’s middle name is Khalil, a variation of the name of Reyna’s favorite writer, Kahlil Gibran. Reyna and Nathan move into Carlos’s house while she recuperates from the birth. She learns about parenting an infant by watching Norma, who had her second child three months earlier.

Reyna is furious with her mother for not attending the birth. She is even angrier with herself for expecting her mother to change. Reyna’s relationship with Francisco is equally fraught. Although he is present for Nathan’s birth and checks in on them periodically, he eventually steps aside.

Reyna settles into her new house and her new identity as a single mother, vowing to be a good parent to her son. Reyna and Mago pay a surprise visit to their father, who recently embraced religion, only to find him completely disinterested in their children. Reyna tells her father she bought a house and that she has taken steps to become a US citizen. Although her father approves of these accomplishments, he becomes concerned when Reyna describes her neighborhood. The two reconnect when he builds her a fence, sharing their experiences about crossing the border and their thoughts about parental responsibility. Reyna understands that her father’s decision to leave Mexico allowed her to be the parent he could never be: a parent who is present.

After two-and-a-half years of teaching, Reyna realizes that administrators make teachers’ jobs harder. For example, administrators assign teachers to different classes every year, making it difficult to develop an expertise in any grade or subject. These administrative issues exacerbate bigger problems facing public schools in Los Angeles including overcrowding, which leads to the promotion of underqualified students. Aware of the school’s policy, Reyna’s eighth-grade students do the bare minimum to graduate middle school, thereby entering high school unprepared.

Reyna’s students are apathetic, rude, and lacking in discipline. Following the advice of Ms. Hoang, Reyna pays home visits to her worst students and calls parents to the school to discuss their children. One parent reacts badly, blaming Reyna for his child’s bad behavior in front of her class. The incident gives Reyna nightmares and makes her realize that teaching is not her dream. She calls Diana, who advises her to transfer to an adult school, which will give her time to write. Reyna considers enrolling in an accelerated teacher credential program. Mago reminds her sister that she has responsibilities, and that working and going to school will leave little time for Nathan. Although Reyna feels guilty, she decides to go back to school.

Reyna recalls her experiences with María Amparo Escandón, an upper-class Mexican author and teacher. María teaches a weekend writing workshop using excerpts from Latino authors, much to Reyna’s delight. Reyna is pleased when María seeks her out during breaks, but she struggles with a writing exercise challenging her to write as if her parents were dead. By the end of the class, Reyna reclaims her voice as a writer and has a renewed sense of excitement for her unfinished novel.

María encourages Reyna to apply to Emerging Voices, a mentorship program for writers of color. She explains that the seven-month program opens doors to local and national literary communities. The fellows meet and discuss their work with each other and a master teacher. Fellows are assigned mentors, receive free classes at UCLA Extension, and meet with published authors, editors, and agents to discuss craft and publishing. Diana and Micah agree to write letters of recommendation supporting Reyna’s application. Before mailing her application, Reyna sees Diana, who expresses confidence Reyna will get into the program.

Reyna receives news that Abuelita Chinta is on the verge of death after suffering a scorpion bite. Reyna pays for her, her mother, and Nathan to fly to Iguala with Mago and Leo. They share memories about Abuelita Chinta while waiting to board the plane. Reyna wishes she had spent more time with her grandmother and vows to help her in the future. Reyna’s mother reveals that Abuelita Chinta was cruel to her growing up. She recalls Abuelita Chinta slamming her hands on a hot griddle during a childhood cooking lesson. The situation escalated during adolescence, when Abuelita Chinta threw rocks at boys to chase them away.

Reyna’s mother also recounts how she met her husband. The two struck up a secret relationship when he came to the mill to buy tortillas. One day, they missed the bus coming home from a dance, forcing them to stay at a motel. She returned home after a chaste night, only to be beaten and kicked out of the house by Abuelita Chinta. Reyna struggles to reconcile the kind grandmother of her childhood with the cruel woman her mother describes. She is relieved to learn that her mother and grandmother’s relationship improved over the years. Abuelita Chinta even asked for forgiveness after learning that her daughter was in an abusive relationship. Reyna’s mother forgave her and sent her mother, despite having little to spare. Reyna realizes that her mother was a terrible parent but a good daughter. She wonders if she can break the cycle of abuse.