Three Keys

At school, Mia sets her classmates straight on how hard she and her family work at the motel: “I had finally worked up the nerve to not be ashamed of what I did, but to be proud of it, to own it. And that was something!” (130). After class, Mrs. Welsh talks about her personal setbacks. Despite her Ph.D., she was always passed over for tenure by male colleagues. Mia says her mother was an electrical engineer in China, giving Mrs. Welsh something to ponder about the real immigrant experience.

Jason’s pork belly dish is a huge success at the school cookout. His father chooses the Chinese food that Mia’s family prepared instead. He repeats that he wants his son to advance in society instead of becoming a cook. Surprisingly, Yao draws a parallel to the Tangs’ success: “He turned back to his rice with a melancholy sigh. And I stood there, very, very quiet, under the early evening moon. It was the first time Mr. Yao had ever let on that he was impressed with us” (134).

The Kids for Kids group has now expanded to over 20 members. When Jason joins the group, everyone praises his skills as a chef, helping counteract the negative attitude of his father.

In class, Mia writes an essay about unauthorized immigrants crossing the desert in search of a better life, but she eliminates most of the content for fear that the story will point to Lupe’s family. Back at the motel, the Tangs learn that Lupe’s father has gone to search for his missing wife but has been detained at the border. 

Hank agrees to drive Lupe down to the San Diego County Jail to see her father. Mia thinks, “I couldn’t imagine what Lupe was feeling inside. And to think that José, our dear, wonderful José, was locked up in jail. It wasn’t fair!” (139).

While Mia waits for Lupe to return, she finds a newspaper article about a Chinese chef and clips it out for Jason. As she watches the front desk, more immigrants begin to check in as guests after seeing the marquee outside. They are glad to be welcome somewhere. When Lupe returns, everyone springs into action to help her free her father. They start calling lawyers around town to find legal counsel for Jose.

That night, Lupe confesses to Mia how frightened she is. Mia says, “I thought about all the times last year when she was so brave, explaining to me how things worked in America, encouraging me to hang on tight and not lose hope. Now it was my turn” (143).

The next day at school, Mia gives Jason the clipping about the chef. He is doubtful that his parents will agree to let him take cooking classes. Later, Mrs. Welch returns an essay to Mia with a grade of C. Mia is angry, but Mrs. Welch says she has potential and offers to work with her one-on-one. Mia thinks, “Maybe she really wanted to help me to become a better writer. The question was […] did I want it from her?” (147). 

The next day, the motel group is overjoyed when a lawyer calls back, offering to represent Jose. Hank drives the girls to Los Angeles to meet with an attorney named Andrew Delaney. He charges $300 per hour and demands a retainer up-front. Hank, Mia, and Lupe leave angrily. 

Back at the motel, Lupe frets about her missing mother. Mia fumes about the overpriced lawyer and thinks, “What was so different about him that he got to make $300 an hour and my parents made less than $100 a day? It wasn’t like he had an extra hand or a second brain” (152).

Lupe advises Mia to accept Mrs. Welch’s offer to improve her writing. She says she once won a writing contest herself but couldn’t accept the prize because of her unauthorized status. This situation gives Mia something to think about regarding their different life experiences as immigrants.

On Monday morning, Mia calls reporter Annie Collins for information about tracking Lupe’s mother. At the same time, the girls circulate flyers among the Mexican community for someone matching Lupe’s mother’s description.

Jason informs Mia that his parents aren’t willing to send him to cooking school. Mia tells him it’s his dream, not theirs. She explains how her mother once shot down her dream of becoming a writer, saying, “Now I don’t care what my mom or anyone says. It’s my dream and nobody can take it away” (156).

Mia agrees to Mrs. Welch’s coaching if the teacher can get a room where Kids for Kids can meet regularly. The teacher agrees and begins her sessions with Mia, explaining that the girl puts wonderful emotion into her writing but lacks the technical basics. Mia doesn’t know what a noun or verb is so the two go over grammar rules. As a gesture of goodwill, Mia invites Mrs. Welch to stop by the Calivista one day.

Hank drives Lupe and Mia down to San Diego to visit Jose again. He looks wasted and on the point of despair. Lupe urges her father not to give up hope. 

Back at home, Mia calls Annie for any news about Lupe’s missing mother. Annie has nothing to report, but she suggests that the girls start a petition to free Jose. It may carry weight at his deportation hearing.

That afternoon, Mrs. Welch comes to visit the motel. She is impressed by the students in the How to Navigate America class. She also bonds with Mrs. Tang, who is teaching math to immigrants even though she was once an engineer. Mrs. Welsh says to Mia, “‘We can’t always do what we want.’ She looked over at me. ‘But we can try to make the best of what we do’” (165).

The girls get more responses from expensive attorneys. Finally, a lawyer named Prisha Patel calls and agrees to meet with them. Her office is located in Buena Park, and it isn’t fancy. She tells Lupe that the girl isn’t an “illegal alien” because actions are illegal, not people. Also, the girl isn’t from outer space. These words make Lupe feel less stigmatized. After hearing the facts of the case, Prisha agrees to work pro bono, so it won’t cost Lupe’s family anything. Mia thinks, “It felt so good to know that the spirit of helping others lived not just in our sign, but in people’s hearts too” (172).

That night at the motel, Lupe finally feels a sense of hope that Prisha can help them. Later, the girls celebrate by staging an impromptu karaoke concert in one of the empty guest rooms.

Everyone at the motel steps up their efforts for Operation Save Jose. They call and write to local politicians to generate support, and a petition is circulated in the community. At school, Mia’s coaching with Mrs. Welch begins to pay off. She receives an A− on her next paper: “An A− from Mrs. Welch! Wow! That was like an A+ + from a normal teacher!” (177).

Meanwhile, motel registration improves as more immigrants hear about the welcome sign at the Calivista. Jason stops by the motel to help stuff envelopes for Operation Save Jose and tells the girls that his parents have finally consented to let him take a cooking class.

Lupe resents Jason’s involvement and finally explains her grudge to Mia. Years earlier, when her mother used to work for Mrs. Yao, Lupe and Jason were best friends. They were wrestling on the floor one day when Mrs. Yao caught them. Angry that her son was fraternizing with the help, she immediately fired Lupe’s mom and sent the two packing. Lupe is mad that Jason did nothing to set his mother straight. As payback, Lupe demands that Mia tell Jason to leave the motel. Regretfully, Mia sends the hurt Jason away. 

On the last Sunday in October, 100,000 people gather downtown to protest the governor and Proposition 187. When Hank sees the rally on TV, he takes the girls to Los Angeles to join in. They decide to circulate Jose’s petition among the friendly crowd. All three are impressed by the kindness and support that the demonstrators show toward immigrants.