In a passage written by Richard Rodriguez, the author recaps spending the Christmas season at home with the family. While recalling the event, Rodriguez provides details on Mother Rodriguez's prediction of the American dream for the children. During the passage, Rodriguez uses language and details to comment on the mother and father, children and himself and how the American dream of material success is incapable of equating to happiness for the family.

Rodriguez's language provides details on how Mother and Father Rodriguez live the American dream of material success. Not to any amazement, the children fulfill the Mother's hope for the material achievement. The prediction for the children to "be very rich" and "have lots of money to buy [her] presents" develops into a realization for the family. Not only are the mother's children successful but every Christmas "her feet are wreathed with gifts" so immensely that "the...