Into the Beautiful North

The next morning, Nayeli heads out to look for her father and is given a free bean burrito from a drive-thru. The worker tells her to try the library to find her father and that in Kankakee, "they like Mexicans here!" (317).

Nayeli marvels at the beauty of the building. There are Mexican children in the library, but Nayeli is too shy and ashamed to ask anyone for help. The librarian, Mary-Jo, asks her if she needs help and Nayeli tells her she is looking for her father. Mary Jo says there are some Sinaloans in Kankakee, and calls the police and asks someone to come over. The Mexican American detective makes phone calls for about thirty minutes and thinks he has located Nayeli's father. He and Mary-Jo argue over who will take Nayeli to her father. Because of this kindness, Nayeli loves Kinkakee. Mary Jo drops her off at a street for Nayeli insists that she must go alone.

Arriving at a dead end, Nayeli watches a truck drive by and park in a driveway. A man steps out, with a woman and a toddler. He playfully smacks the woman on the bottom; they kiss and go inside.