Stef Soto, Taco Queen

After school, Stef finds Tía Perla at the gas station again. In the back, there’s a package for her, and she’s thrilled to find a cell phone inside. She rushes to thank her dad for getting her the phone, believing it means he trusts her to go to the concert. In truth, her parents won’t let her go to the concert but got her the phone to show her they trust her. Angry and devastated, Stef realizes the real truth about the phone: “It’s not even for me! It’s for you!” (70).

On Saturday, Stef doesn’t help her dad, instead staying home and drawing a picture of Tía Perla burning. Her mom tries to explain how she fears sending Stef out into a foreign-feeling world, but Stef doesn’t care—instead, she only complains about how she feels trapped by them and Tía Perla. Stef’s mom warns Stef to respect the taco truck because they are lucky to have it. Stef can’t help thinking that “lucky” is “not the word I would use” (75).