Cora Confronts Papa
Valerie LeFavor

Cora: What! But no, (standing up) I can’t stop going to school!
Paloma: What about the candy skulls? (Sitting down)
Papa: Cora, do not raise your voice at your mother! We’ve taught you better than that.
Cora: No! And I’m not going to stop going to school just to watch some dumb kids!
Mama: Cor…
Papa: (interrupting) What we say goes! You’re going to help us with your brothers y punto!
Cora: (sits down and starting to cry) But school is so important I don’t want to miss.
Mama: Mija we’re very sorry, but we need the extra he…
Papa: (interrupting) Sorry ni que nada ya dijimos. If I ever disrespected my parents like you’ve done, you don’t even want to know what would’ve happened to me, you’re helping us and that’s final!
(He gets up and goes to work on the crops. Cora starts crying badly, Mama walks toward her to comfort her, Cora brushes Mama off, runs off with Paloma to go to school. Mama sits down at the table left sobbing to herself.)