Three Keys

Mia gets the idea to write a letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times condemning Proposition 187 and explaining the plight of Jose Garcia. Later, at school, Jason confronts Mia about why she kicked him out of the motel. She reminds him that his mother fired Lupe’s mother and that he didn’t stand up for his friend. Jason admits that what he did was wrong but is amazed that Lupe still remembers the slight. Mia thinks, “To Lupe, the memory was still very much alive. The wound had solidified, growing more powerful and pungent” (192). Jason feels that it’s too late to apologize, but Mia encourages him to try.

A TV station is coming to the motel to interview Lupe. She is terrified that she’ll be sent back to Mexico if she’s seen on-air as an undocumented immigrant, but Hank has arranged for an anonymous interview.

The interview airs on Halloween, and everyone at the motel watches. Lupe makes a convincing case for letting her father stay in the country and for how wrong Proposition 187 is. Everyone congratulates her on being so articulate. Afterward, Lupe receives a call from her mother in Mexico.

Lupe is relieved to learn that her mother is still alive. The people who were supposed to lead her across the border stole her money, and now she’s stranded. Lupe explains the situation with Jose and says it might be best for her mother to stay there until after the trial. Everyone is happy to learn that Mrs. Garcia is alright, and Mrs. Tang proposes a celebratory Halloween dinner at a local restaurant.

At the restaurant, a TV is playing the newscast that features Lupe. Everyone congratulates her, drawing the attention of the other patrons. A white man comes over to the table. Hank fears trouble, but the man merely wants to express his sadness that Lupe had to endure such a harrowing experience. Mia thinks about the upcoming election: “I hoped that when they went into the voting booths, they’d pleasantly surprise us, just like the kind man did at dinner tonight” (204). 

The following day at school, Jason apologizes to Lupe. Mia is happy that the three are on good terms again. Later, Jason comes to the motel to help stuff envelopes with letters to public officials. While they work, Mia and Jason hear radio shows discussing Jose’s case. The television news also covers a protest outside the jail where Jose is held. The demonstrators are demanding his freedom. All these signs make Mia hopeful of a positive outcome for the case.

That evening, Mia receives a call from the investor who threatened to pull his money out of the motel. Even though occupancy has increased, the profits are still down, but the investor says he will remain for the time being. After the call, Mia hears that her letter to the editor has been published in the Los Angeles Times.

Mia reads the newspaper and feels a glow of pride: “It was the most amazing feeling in the world, seeing my words in print. As I walked to school that morning carrying the newspaper in my hand, I felt the entire world open up” (210). She shares the story with her classmates. Mrs. Welch seems very proud of Mia’s accomplishment.

That evening, Mrs. Tang takes the girls on a shopping trip to the mall, so they’ll look good for their court appearance. She encounters the three Chinese women who make rude comments about Mia’s Latina friend and advise Mrs. Tang to keep Mia away from kids who aren’t Chinese. Mrs. Tang no longer cares about impressing these phonies, and she tells them off.

On Election Day, the girls nervously watch the returns. After a while, Mia can’t stand the suspense and goes to help Jason pack. His family is moving into a house half the size of their old residence because his father’s business isn’t doing well. When Mia arrives, she finds that Jason can’t prioritize what to leave behind. Mia thinks, “I recognized the fear in his voice, the worry that if he didn’t take every single thing, a part of him would be lost forever” (218).

Mia helps Jason take his most cherished possessions and fit them into three boxes. The rest of his games and toys will be donated to the motel for guests’ children to use. On her way out, Mia encounters Mr. Yao and asks him how he voted. As expected, he supported Proposition 187. Much to her dismay, Mia learns the following morning that the proposition has passed.

The following day, undocumented immigrants keep their children home from school since the proposition makes it illegal for them to attend public schools in California. They also can’t get any medical treatment unless it’s an emergency.

The atmosphere in Mrs. Welch’s class is subdued. Many of the Kids for Kids members are absent. When Mia sees Jason, she blames him for how his father voted. Jason is upset and says, “I came over to say that I told my mom what she did to Lupe and her mom was not cool. But I’m starting to think it doesn’t matter what I do. You guys are never going to separate me from my parents!” (222).

Back at home, Mrs. Tang is tutoring Lupe in math since she can’t attend school. Mia confides her frustration about Jason to Hank. Hank reminds her that Jason shouldn’t be judged by the actions of his parents. He advises, “It’s one of the three keys of friendship. You gotta listen, you gotta care, and most importantly, you gotta keep trying” (224).

Later, when Mrs. Welch is tutoring Mia, the girl is distracted. She explains that she’s upset that Lupe can’t attend school. Mrs. Welsh reassures her that the proposition is being appealed in court and that she would never report Lupe herself. She then hands Mia a letter that is a character reference for Jose’s trial. Mia is surprised and touched by her teacher’s change of attitude.

The Anaheim community is rocked by tragedy when an immigrant boy dies from an infection because his undocumented parents were afraid to take him to the hospital. Jason stops by with some quesadillas he has prepared for the boy’s mother. He reminds Mia, “‘I’m not my father, you know’ […] I nodded as our eyes locked. He’d been trying to tell me all year. More importantly, he’d been trying to show me” (228).

The following week, new immigrants show up for the How to Navigate America class because they are sick or frightened. Even though there is a court injunction preventing the enforcement of Proposition 187, the immigrants are afraid to go to hospitals. The motel staff mobilizes people in the Chinese and Mexican communities who have a medical background and can help. A clinic is set up at the Calivista. The rest of the week is spent drumming up more signatures for Jose’s petition. The night before the hearing, both girls are tense about the outcome.

At the hearing, the judge rules that he cannot grant Jose residency immediately because he has broken the law. However, he says there are extenuating circumstances that need additional review. Jose can stay in the country for the next six months until the case is heard again. His lawyer is confident that they will win after the review. Everyone is overjoyed to see Jose and Lupe reunited. Mrs. Garcia is advised to stay in Mexico until the matter can be cleared up. In the meantime, Jose and Lupe move into a room at the Calivista.

Lupe returns to school, and things begin to settle down to normal. Mrs. Welch presents the class with a math problem that gives Lupe an idea for increasing the motel’s profits. If they put bunk beds in all the rooms, they can charge per bed instead of per room and double their income, which would keep the big investors happy.

The girls tell Hank their plan about converting the motel to a hostel. He immediately gets the wheels in motion to buy additional beds. With the additional income, the Tangs can finally hire someone to do the cleaning, which will free up Mrs. Tang’s time to pursue a career. She wants to take a licensing exam to teach high school math but fears that she might not pass. Mia says, “I thought of all the little things my mom did to get what she wanted—the fake shopping bags, the free sample perfumes, the beet juice she dabbed on her lips when she couldn’t afford lipstick. My mom always found a way” (244).

The Calivista stages a grand reopening as a hostel motel. Jason makes hors d’oeuvres for the occasion, and all the shareholders show up for the festivities. Even Mr. Yao stops by. Mia convinces him to try one of his son’s mango potstickers, and he admits that they are tasty. Yao also admits that Mia and her family have succeeded when he never expected they would:

“‘Congratulations, Mia. Very well done.’” (247)

Mia notes, “He held out his hand. I can’t describe the feelings that coursed through me as I shook Mr. Yao’s hand. Why did it mean so much to me to finally hear him say that?” (247). Mia feels that she’s come a long way from when she first staffed the front desk. Lupe, Jason, and Mia officiate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.