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108. Acceptance
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
Emoni didn’t expect Drexel to accept her, since her GPA is a bit low. But Ms. Fuentes pushed her to apply, and it has a great culinary arts and restaurant management program. Emoni doesn’t know how she can pay bills and go to school at the same time, so she approaches ’Buela the day after she gets her acceptance and asks if it makes more sense to get a job. She didn’t get full financial aid, after all. ’Buela just smiles like she’s waiting for the punchline. She tells Emoni she just has to work hard and then she’ll have a degree. Emoni can’t tell her that she does work hard, but she still does poorly in school. Last time, a guidance counselor held Emoni back. Will Emoni hold herself back this time?
Emoni feels stuck. She knows Drexel will prepare her well for a restaurant career, but can she afford that kind of education? She’s trying to be practical and think of her family, but she also doesn’t want to be solely responsible for holding herself back if that’s indeed what getting a job instead of attending Drexel would be. For her part, ’Buela seems a lot like Ms. Fuentes as she makes college sound easy and logical—Emoni is pretty sure it’s not so easy.
Themes
’Buela says she’s waited for this moment, and she asks if Emoni wants to know where she goes when she’s not at the doctor’s. Emoni braces herself, waiting to hear that ’Buela is indeed sick. But ’Buela says that sometimes, she needs to remind herself that she’s more than a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Further, she’s been going on dates with Joseph Jagoda, and she loves spending time with him. He makes her feel like a woman, not just a mom. Noticing that ’Buela looks relaxed, Emoni says she’s thrilled for ’Buela. ’Buela admits that he’d like her to move in and get married, but obviously she can’t do that. Emoni tells ’Buela to set a good example for her and marry Mr. Jagoda. She and Babygirl will be fine.
As ’Buela talks about her dates and her need to explore who Gloria (rather than ’Buela) is, she’s talking about herself—but she’s also talking about Emoni. Her implication is that Emoni should attend college if only because it’ll give Emoni the opportunity to explore her identity outside of motherhood; it’ll be a bonus to get the education she’s wanted her whole life. Emoni seems to finally grasp how huge of a sacrifice ’Buela has made by raising her and Babygirl, so she encourages ’Buela to follow her dreams—just like ’Buela encourages Emoni to follow hers.
Themes
