How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

Content Warning: This section of the guide reproduces racial slurs used in the source text only in quotations. This section of the guide also discusses numerous sexual taboos, including incest and sexual relations between adults and minors.

Yolanda has been away from the Dominican Republic and the family compound for five years. While her family believes she is just visiting, she is not certain she will be returning to the United States this time. As the family gathers together at the compound, Yolanda realizes that everybody will look at her like she has let herself go. Among those gathered are Yolanda’s aunts and cousins. Yolanda wants to go up north to gather guavas, but her family will not let her go without a male escort. There are possible guerillas around, and the family has private security at their compound. Yolanda wonders if perhaps a life of tradition in the Dominican Republic would suit her better than a life of freedom in the United States.

As she goes in search of the fruits, Yolanda stops at a small village and meets some children. They all get into her car and go gather guavas with her. As she heads back, she remembers all the warnings her aunts gave her before heading out, and she begins to fear for her safety.