Almost a Woman

Mami slowly comes out of mourning and things begin to change around the apartment. Esmeralda and her siblings start playing music. Tío Chico, Mami, and Tata take turns cooking elaborate meals, and neighbors from downstairs come to visit and eat. Jimmy, a boy just a little younger than Esmeralda, develops a crush on her and begins following her around. An embarrassed Esmeralda goes to her cousins’ apartment to avoid seeing him. On weekends, the family goes to Coney Island. While the others swim, Esmeralda sits on the beach because she was once swept under by a wave and feared she would drown. One day, the kids persuade Mami to take them to the amusement park. Edna goes missing, and Mami becomes frantic. Finally, Edna reappears on a horse with a police officer, and Esmeralda fantasizes about being rescued by a handsome police officer the same way.

Mami wants to go dancing at night and tries to persuade Tata, who remains skeptical: “‘Hmmph,’ Tata responded, an unspoken, ‘I don’t care if the whole world is going, you’re not’” (93). Mami continues to badger Tata to watch the younger kids so she can take Esmeralda to the clubs, until Tata finally gives in.