Summary

The children had become a community. Maria teaches them to read. Karim gets frustrated at times, but Maria encourages him on.. She says “you have to know how to read to ever be free“ (76). Her father had been a school teacher, and she used to play with his old books. She taught herself to read. Her father taught the very poor and insisted that education is very important so that they don’t end up as poor as their parents.

Maria’s father did not believe in borrowing money until one day it became necessary. He did not even watch as she was carried away as payment for their debt. It is from this point that Maria no longer spoke. When she does talk, the children ask her what her name is, and she says that they have named her Maria, and...