Who is Maricela?

Maricela is a pregnant, teenaged Mexican who believes that she is hated by everyone because of her nationality, her age, and the fact she is pregnant. Maricela does not want the baby and wishes that she would miscarry. Her parents will not allow her to consider abortion or adoption.

Penny, the woman who is helping Maricela get her GED makes Maricela take care of a plot of ground in the garden because she believes Maricela needs the experience taking care of something before the baby comes. Maricela meets Leona while the two are working in their adjacent plots. Leona teaches Maricela that she is part of nature, a system that will outlast even modern conveniences, like electricity. When Maricela considers that she is part of a larger world, she indicates that for just a moment, she does not wish her baby was dead.