Under The Mesquite

A year and a half after Mami’s first diagnosis, Papi tells the children that her cancer is back. Chemotherapy doesn’t always cure cancer for good, and now the family must endure the ordeal of Mami’s precarious health all over again.

Despite her weakening health, Mami continues to nurture her garden. Under the stubborn mesquite, Mami’s roses continue to bloom. Mami sings to them, caring for them as if they were her children. However, Mami’s approach to “parenting” her garden is different than her parenting of her actual children. While she must keep the roses separate from each other so they can survive, she encourages her family to cling to one another. The family does just that, more so now that they can see their mother’s life passing away.

Mami cries on Lupita’s bed when she can hear Lupita crying and talking to herself in her bathroom. Lupita explains to her that she was practicing for drama class, and Mami asks her to perform it for her. Mami still doesn’t speak English, and Lupita is nervous to perform for her mother for the first time. Mami continues to cry while Lupita acts.