Red Wheelbarrow 2008 text FINAL REVISED.indd - De Anza College

“I need it to register for the SAT.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a test for college.”
“I don’t remember. Violeta don’t bother me anymore. I want to
finish making dinner so I can go take a nap.”
“Can you look for it? I need it for my college stuff.”
There was silence. Violeta didn’t get far with her SAT registration.
Her voice cracked as she said, “This really sucks. There’s only a few weeks
left to register. Mom, please look for it. I really need it!”
Violeta was back in the groove of school. She was reconnecting
with friends and trying to keep up with all the homework being assigned.
She did not want to slack off in her senior year so she loaded up on college
prep courses. School and volleyball practice kept her really busy. One day
on her way to class a friend asked her if she’d already registered for the
SAT. Violeta had almost forgotten about it. It had been two weeks since
she’d asked her mom for her social security number. She hadn’t gotten
the number yet.
Violeta’s mother was in the living room looking for her shoes.
It was almost time for her to leave for work. Violeta was in the kitchen
looking for a snack when she asked her mom about her social.
“I’ve been busy. I haven’t had time to look for it,” replied Violeta’s
mother.
“I’ll look for it. Is it in that box in your closet?” Violeta started
towards her mother’s bedroom.
“Violeta come back here.”
“What mom?” asked an annoyed Violeta.
All Violeta wanted was her social security number to sign up for
the SAT. She wondered what her mother wanted as she headed for the
living room. In the living room, Violeta’s mother was sitting on the couch,
staring at the patio door. Violeta stood silently waiting for her mom to
say something. Violeta’s mother turned to look at her. Violeta noticed
that her mother’s eyes were red and puffy. She softly inquired, “Are you
crying?”
“I’m ashamed. Your father and I thought we were doing the
right thing. We wanted to give you a better life. That’s why we work so
hard.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your dad and I, we came here for work. We came because we had
no future in Mexico. It was important to us to give you a good future.”
“I know mom. That’s why I’m going to college.”
Tears streamed down her mother’s face. Violeta remained silent.
She had only seen her mother cry like that one other time. That was when
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