Rain of Gold

Unable to sleep one night on a trip to Santa Ana, Lupe climbs out of the family tent to sit under the night stars. Her mother follows her, sensing something is wrong. She asks Lupe why she seems anxious about Santa Ana. After some prodding, Lupe reveals that her teacher sexually assaulted her while she was in school there and said she was “too old” for school (236). Doña Guadalupe then suggests Lupe approach a different teacher about borrowing some books to study while they travel. Lupe is excited by this and agrees to the idea. Soon after, Lupe and her family are working in the fields and about to have lunch when Carlota suggests she and Lupe go to a dance in Carlsbad that evening. Carlota says they have been invited by Jaime, the boy wanted by every girl in town, and his two friends. Jaime approaches their family to see if they have come to a decision. Doña Guadalupe says she still has to consult her husband, who is napping, so Jaime leaves them to their lunch, but not before making eye contact with a “nervous” Lupe (240). At the dance, Lupe and Carlota are called to the front of the line by Archie, a jovial deputy who has recently become friends and business partners with Juan.