May through June 7, 1958 Summary and Analysis

Carolina gets a summons for her son, Jose Carolos to appear in court, which she ignores. She finally appears and the lieutenant she meets with is sympathetic to living in the favela. Her children are always hungry, which keeps them from being picky, and Carolina is always scrambling to feed them, selling newspaper and other junk. Politicians manipulate the favela, buying votes, but then forget about them. Store owners "donate" cans of food that is bulging and rotten. She says that the favelados are cats and the politicians are birds and watch out if the bird ever loses its protective cage. One candidate promises to do away with the favela. No one believes him.

Carolina takes Vera along as she searches for paper. Vera tells a woman she smells good and the woman gives Carolina some money...