Breaking Through

Roberto initiates a huge change in the life of the Jimenez family when he introduces his girlfriend, Darlene, to his parents. The two have been dating for more than a year, and the author notes that “[w]e never talked seriously about girls and sex at home” (146). However, Roberto had confided in Francisco about his love for Darlene. Papa notes that Darlene bears a resemblance to a beautiful Mexican movie star, Dolores del Rio. Roberto, clearly nervous, asks that his parents bless his engagement to Darlene and Mama responds enthusiastically, while Papa “[…] bit his lower lip and nodded in approval” (148). Darlene’s stepfather made his aversion to Mexicans clear, referring to Roberto as “pepper gut” (147).

While the family rejoices in the marriage plans, there are significant financial repercussions to Roberto living independently, and money will become more problematic than it has been already. Roberto tries to work at an additional janitorial job in order to help his parents and siblings, but ultimately needs extra money to pay community college tuition and to prepare for the baby that Darlene is expecting. The family struggles, and Papa becomes more depressed; he often retreats into the shed for hours. Francisco becomes anxious and starts to suffer headaches, but Mama remains firm in her faith that “God will provide” (149). In fact, the finances do right themselves, as Tojito and Trampita start to work as berry pickers, Mama babysits and does ironing for Bonetti Ranch families, and Francisco increases his hours at Santa Maria Window Cleaners, “[…] working from six in the morning until midnight” (149). Eventually, Francisco is physically and emotionally exhausted by his schedule, and he starts to understand his father’s sense of despair. He describes looking at his haggard image in the bathroom mirror at work on one occasion, noting that “I dropped to my knees, buried my face in my hands, and cried” (150). 

When Francisco awakens on the first day of his senior year of high school, debilitating body aches and exhaustion prevent him from getting out of bed. Although Mama initially attributes his symptoms to a nightmare, she eventually tells Papa that her son has been overworked. Papa notes that “[t]his life is killing us all” (152). Trampita and Mama clean the Western Union office for Francisco, and he sleeps on and off for the next twenty-four hours. Eventually, a doctor at the Santa Maria County Hospital diagnoses him as suffering from mononucleosis, a virus that results in lack of energy and joint pain.

Upon Francisco’s eventual return to school, the assistant principal asks why he was not present to welcome the incoming freshmen in his role as student-body president. The author explains that he had been sick, and is forced to explain that the family does not have a telephone when questioned as to why he had not called the school to explain his situation. Exhaustion plagues Francisco for weeks; his grades fall, his spirits are low, and he is forced to drop his physics class. At one very low emotional point, he tells Mama that perhaps, like Papa, “[…] I am cursed too” (155). She disagrees emphatically and reminds him of the importance of prayer and spirituality. Francisco recalls that “I began praying on a regular basis once again” (156), and ultimately he starts to recover, improve his grades, and function as student-body president.