When she arrived at Calle de la Paz, number 1423 was now a small bakery called La Coquí Feliz . An elderly woman with silver braids stood behind the counter, kneading dough. Around her neck hung a gold locket shaped like a tiny house.
Mariana had always believed her grandmother, Elena, arrived in Chicago alone in 1980 and never looked back. Family legend said she left behind no family, no friends, no unfinished business. Yet here was evidence of a promise broken, a connection abandoned, a story never finished. readtheory.org
“Elena’s granddaughter,” Beatriz whispered. “I’ve been waiting for you for thirty-nine years.” 1. The primary purpose of the letter in the story is to A. explain why Elena left San Juan B. reveal that Elena had a secret family C. show that Elena never intended to return to Puerto Rico D. introduce a mystery about Elena’s past When she arrived at Calle de la Paz,
Mariana found the letter while cleaning out her late grandmother’s attic. It was tucked inside a worn copy of The House on Mango Street , pressed between pages 84 and 85. The envelope was yellowed and unsealed, addressed in her grandmother’s familiar cursive to a name Mariana did not recognize: “Beatriz Ramirez, 1423 Calle de la Paz, San Juan, Puerto Rico.” Mariana had always believed her grandmother, Elena, arrived
A. She resents Elena for leaving and never writing. B. She has completely forgotten about Elena. C. She has remembered Elena and hoped for some kind of closure. D. She believes Mariana is Elena in disguise.
Mariana approached the counter and held out the photograph. “Are you Beatriz?”
The woman’s hands stopped. She looked at the image, then at Mariana. Her eyes watered, but she did not cry. Instead, she smiled—a slow, sad, knowing smile.