Mama' s voice floated through the apartment a s she sang a Mexican folk song that I had heard all my life.“Hola, ” she greeted me when she came out of the bedroom.“Plea se speak to me in 1 , ” I interrupted.She paid no attention and 2 speaking in Spani sh.The word s 3 me of my grandparent s and birthday partie s in Mexico, but I knew my mother' s life would be 4 if she learned to speak Engli sh.We had lived in the United State s for three year s, and she still had difficulty 5 to store owner s and my teacher s.I wa s determined that she should try.“Why won't you speak Engli sh? ” I 6 .“Don't you want to be 7 to talk to people here? ” “I sabel, ” she whi spered.Mama alway s whi spered when she wa s up set with me.“What? ” I wa s not 8 with her, either.She 9 for the Engli sh word s.“Come with me to the, uh-how do you say it? Meeting.” “What kind of meeting? Where i s it? ” I 10 her, but now she refu sed to an swer.In 11 , we drove acro s s town to the college, where she pulled into a brightly lit parking lot.I wa s 12 .I had expected a meeting at someone' s 13 -a garden club or a parent s’ group.Then I 14 a sign on a door.My mother wa s 15 night cla s se s to learn Engli sh!
“I don't under stand. 16 you’re learning Engli sh, why won't you speak Engli sh at home? ” I a sked.“You'll learn fa ster if you 17 with me.” “I speak Engli sh here, ” she said in her thick accent.She he sitated, putting the word s together, and then went on, “I speak Spani sh at home 18 you.”
I 19 under stood-she spoke Spani sh at home so that I wouldn't forget the word s, song s, and 20 of Mexico.I said, “O.K., Mama, e stabien.”