The Distance Between Us: Book Two: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

One day, the school nurse comes into Reyna’s classroom to do a lice check. When the nurse is done inspecting Reyna, she writes a note on a slip of paper and explains that Reyna is not to come to school until her lice are gone. Reyna is absolutely shocked that even in El Otro Lado, there are lice. Reyna walks home, unsure of what to tell Papi. She spends the afternoon crying, afraid that Papi is going to send her back to Mexico.

When Papi gets home and Reyna shows him the note, though, he is calm and understanding. He tells Reyna that the lice aren’t her fault—she probably picked it up from another kid at school. He warns her to be careful who she plays with, and then spends the rest of the afternoon combing through Reyna’s hair and picking out the lice. Reyna feels bliss as her papi spends a whole two hours devoted only to her.