Tamale Lesson

The Romero family is preparing for ROSITA's Quinceañera – her 15th birthday celebration. It's the day before the Quinceañera and there are decorations everywhere. In the kitchen, LUPITA, late 20s, talks on her cell phone. She hangs up angrily and says, “Yeah, well then don't bother calling me, because it's over.” LUPITA sighs deeply trying to hold back a few tears. Her sister, CONNIE, 21, is busy cutting up cilantro. CONNIE asks her sister what happened. LUPITA gets close to her and whispers that she found out she has the HPV virus and she knows she got it from her boyfriend. LUPITA tells her sister that now she is going to have to get a Pap test every six months to make sure she is okay. She advises her to get a Pap test now that she is 21. Just then BLANCA, late 40s, and her comadre DOÑA PETRA, 50s, come in holding the Quinceañera gown, fit for a princess. CONNIE and LUPITA immediately change the conversation and they get busy preparing the tamales. BLANCA is so happy that they were able to get such a beautiful dress for so little. “Yes, this Quinceañera dress was meant for a girl who got pregnant and is now showing,” says DOÑA PETRA. They quickly change the conversation when ROSITA, 15, walks in. The other women laugh and respond to their comments with different funny remarks until MARTIN ROMERO, late 40s, comes in and asks, “Where should we put the cake?” All the women change the conversation and get busy making tamales. ROSITA exits with her father to show him where she wants it. And after the celebration, though initially resistant, DOÑA PETRA goes with BLANCA to a clinic and runs into CONNIE, who is also having a pap test.