“The Cariboo Cafe”

Part I of Essay
This story from The Moths and other stories by Helena Maria Viramontes is told in three different parts. In the first part we read about Sonia and Macky who are children that migrated to the United States with their parents but are now lost in the streets. In the second ....

Part II of Essay
.... arrived to the United States parents would tell their children never talk to strangers, not even the neighbors. The parents of Sonya and Macky gave them a set of rules which were “Rule one: never talk to strangers, not even the neighbor who paced up and down the hallways talking to himself. Rule two: the police, or “polie” as Sonya’s popi pronounced the word, was La Migra in disguise and thus should always be avoided. Rule three: keep your key with you at all times-the four walls of the apartment were the only protection against the stree ....