Every night, between praying and sleeping, I lie in bed and think about them. ¿What type of bed do they sleep on? ¿Is it big? ¿Is it a waterbed like in the movies? ¿Are the sheets soft? I imagine cuddling right in the middle. The comfiest white sheets. Mom to my left, Dad to my right, a mosquito net like a crown covering all of us.
-- Javier (chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: Javier's relationship with his parents is complicated because of the physical distance between them and the subsequent emotional distance. When he imagines their life in the United States, he only has movies and other popular media as a reference point. In leaving El Salvador to reunite with his parents, Javier is embarking on the unknown and feels confident that being with his parents again finally will mitigate the other risks and uncertainties.

The Baker is still here. His wife and all six of his...
-- Javier (chapter 1 paragraph 1)