With the Fire on High: 86. The First Night Summary & Analysis

Señorita Mariana, who’s a bit younger than ’Buela, grabs Emoni’s bookbag and tries to take one of Pretty Leslie’s suitcases, but Leslie won’t let her. They walk down a hill and into an old music store; the apartment is upstairs. Emoni grabs one of Pretty Leslie’s bags going up the stairs. Señorita Maria shows the girls the bedroom and the bathroom, and she says they’ll have dinner soon. As soon as she leaves, Pretty Leslie snags the bed furthest from the door; she’s certain Mariana is going to try to murder them. Emoni accuses Pretty Leslie of being a brat. They all eat dinner in silence and go to bed early.

Back in the bedroom, Emoni puts on pajamas and crawls into bed without brushing her teeth. Once Pretty Leslie comes back from the bathroom and they turn out the light, Emoni thinks of ’Buela and Emma and asks Pretty Leslie if she’ll get homesick. Pretty Leslie tells Emoni to stop trying to be friends, but Emoni admits she’s never been away from home. Sighing, Pretty Leslie says it’s only seven days, and she asks if having a “Spanish” parent means that Emoni has been to the Dominican Republic “or whatever.” Though Emoni answers, Pretty Leslie just snores.