Summary

Maximiliano grows up in Juarez with his mother, who spends a lot of time away from home. He reminisces about his time there with a muted sense of nostalgia, thinking about his school and his neighbors who were kind to him. He spends a lot of time at his friend Jorge's house, where he eats dinner regularly and finds a sense of calm among the family. His own home is adequate for him and his mother and they are not burdened by any severe financial constraints. Maximiliano grows up learning to take care of himself under the shadow of San Martin Caballero, a savior of the poor. His mother reads to him in English, emphasizing the language while also providing for his upkeep in American dollars.

Maximiliano and his mother spend a lot of time in El Paso, where they have family...