Describe symbolism in The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica by Judith Ortiz Cofer

The cheap countertop, the "ancient" register, and the "plastic" Mother and Child magnet reflect the lower economic status of the neighborhood. The register and magnet, however, take on a double meaning. The customers of the deli come there to connect with their heritage, and so these objects would comfort them. The "ancient" register keeps them in touch with the past. When Ortiz Cofer capitalizes the words "mother" and "child," she suggests these figures represent Mary and Jesus. Thus the magnet symbolizes the customers' strong religious beliefs that they have carried with them to the United States.