Valentine

Three days after Dale Strickland was arrested for sexually assaulting Gloria (now Glory) Ramírez, her mother, who worked a menial job cleaning administrative offices in downtown Odessa, was detained during a surprise immigration raid of the building and summarily deported to Mexico. Two days later, Glory, now living alone, was asked by the building owner to vacate the apartment, as he wanted nothing to do with “illegals.” Only her uncle Victor’s arrival saves Glory from being turned out into the streets. His arrival triggers her memories of the endless fights she had with her mother. Glory wanted to drop out of school, seeing no point in it given the lack of job opportunities for immigrants in Odessa. Now her uncle, who works in the oil fields, has Glory pack a few things, and they head to the Jeronimo Hotel, about 30 miles out of town, for her safety until the trial, which is scheduled for the end of the summer. “This is gonna pass” (134), he reassures her.

Glory is alone most of the day at the hotel. She watches television and tries to sleep, but her memories haunt her dreams. She thinks back on the