Summary: Chapter 13

(A) Everyone agrees that Miguel must have taken the money
orders. Alfonso promises to repay the money, but Esperanza remains angry with
Miguel for disrespecting all her hard work and stealing from her.
Meanwhile, Mama gets stronger every day, and Esperanza’s work sorting peaches,
plums, and nectarines allows her to eat a lot of sweet fruit. One day, Alfonso comes by
the shed—Esperanza is worried that something has happened to Mama, but Alfonso
insists that Mama is all right. He has received a message from Miguel, asking them all
to meet him at the bus station in Bakersfield this afternoon.

(B) Esperanza, Hortensia, and Alfonso ride down to Los Angeles in the heat to
await Miguel’s arrival. When his bus finally comes, he steps off the bus looking tired
and rumpled. He hugs his parents and then turns to Esperanza. Rather than
apologizing for stealing from her, he tells her that he has “brought [her] proof that
things will get better.” He turns around to help the last passenger on the bus off—it
is Abuelita.

(C) Esperanza can hardly believe her eyes. She is overcome with emotion as she
embraces her grandmother and breathes in her familiar scent. Miguel admits that he
took Esperanza’s money orders and used them to get back to Mexico so that he could
bring Abuelita over the border

(D) Everyone returns to the camp, and though Esperanza asks for Mama right
away, Josefina tells her Ramona is sleeping. Esperanza introduces Abuelita to everyone
and shows her around, wondering what the old woman must think of the “sad
conditions”—all Abuelita wants, though, is to be taken to her daughter. Esperanza
shows Abuelita outside to where Mama is napping in the shade of a tree, a stack
of crocheting materials at her side. Abuelita gently wakes her daughter, and the two
embrace tearfully.