My Broken Language: A Memoir

Her mother eventually starts dating Mercedes “Sedo” Sanchez, a “fantastically groomed” man who runs the Sanchez Bar and Lounge and manages a crew of construction workers. With Sedo, whom Quiara eventually starts calling “Pop,” the house is full of Spanish, Virginia makes rice and beans instead of bread, and she and Sedo share their religion, a marked difference from Quiara’s father. 

Having left his children behind to move in with Virginia and Quiara, they now call the house every single night, whisper “whore” into the phone, and hang up. Quiara generally answers and doesn’t tell her mother about the abuse. However, when the calls continue incessantly one night, Virginia answers and hears the insult. Instead of being offended, Virginia dissolves into giggles when the calls continue. She tells Quiara that “in the barrio,” they say “ho,” which is also a garden tool that breaks the earth so seeds can be planted. She argues that Sebo’s children are “praising” her; she is “hoeing on Sedo’s potential,” “hoeing on the potential of [her] community,” and “hoeing [Quiara’s] potential” (109).

One day, Sedo and his crew appear with an old piano for Quiara. She starts teaching herself to play, amazed at how she becomes “saturated in feeling,” and visits her aunt in New York, who teaches her to read music and pays for piano lessons.