How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

Cara worries about her finances when the supervisor arrives for apartment inspections. When the supervisor finds an unbolted air conditioner, Lulú storms in and accuses him of ignoring a leak in her ceiling, and her fiery Leo temperament prevents him from citing her. Cara believes that management will evict long-term residents for code violations to offer vacated apartments to white people for higher leases. Management has already cited her neighbor, Tita, and evicted her into a smaller, more expensive apartment. Tita now works nights caring for an elderly woman, who makes her sleep on a yoga mat.

Tita’s daughter, Cecelia, has a developmental disability and cannot stay alone during the day. At night, the residents take turns watching Cecelia. Cara does not let the new tenants call the police when Cecelia cries, fearing that Cecelia will be taken away. Meanwhile, Lulú worries about Adonis, who has lost his house and his job at the bank. Her unemployment has run out, and she is too young to qualify for the Senior Workforce Program.

In the Career Skills Matcher form that follows, Cara discovers that she is a “helper” and a “humanitarian” who is good at problem-solving and inventing.