Chapter 3
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Chapter 7
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Chapter 11
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Chapter three is written by Maria Teresa in diary form. She receives her diary from Minerva for her First Communion. In December, Maria Teresa writes about herself riding back home for the holidays on a train. While on the train Minerva teaches her about sex through diagrams. When she arrive home with Minerva, Patria was waiting with her two children, Noris and Nelson, and pregnant with a third. After their shopping with Mama in Santiage, their cousin, Berto and Raul visit the Mirable family with Tia Flor. We learn that there is a special connection between Maria and her cousins. Back at school in January, Maria feels homesick and wants to go back home. A month later, Maria Teresa is asked to go to the principle office because Minerva told the principle that she was trying to sneak out because their uncle, Tio Mon, is sick. She helps her sister to lie, but scolds Minerva about it later. Minerva eventually confesses the truth that she and her friends have been meeting at Don Horacio's house for secret meetings. A few days later Minerva is now hanging out with Hilda and Maria Teresa thinks that it is not a good idea because she is very rude. In June, the guards come to the school to look for Hilda, but couldn't find her because Sor Asuncion helped her by dressing her up like one of the students. Maria Teresa also mentions that Minerva graduates in July, and Patria lost her third child and her husband acts like it is no big deal. At the very end of the chapter we learn that Maria has to bury her little book because Hilda has been caught and Maria has information about her in the little book.
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In chapter seven we learn that Papa has died and Mate meets Papa's other daughters for the first time. Minerva has given Maria a new little diary. Maria starts having dreams that include her Papa lying in a coffin, a wedding dress, and a man that changes every time. She has this dream multiple times and it changes slightly every time. We continue to learn more about Berto and Raul, who now go by code names, B and R. Berto has kissed Maria and she is torn between which of the two brothers she really likes. Minerva has started law school in the capital and has met someone special who she brings home for the family to meet. In July Maria graduates from school and in September she is studying at the university. A year later, November 1955, Minerva gets married to Manolo and has a daughter, Minou. 1957 Minerva graduates law school, but Trujillo does not let her receive her license. During the summer Minerva invites Mate to come stay with her and Manolo. Mate soon learns of the struggles they are having in their relationship because Manolo is cheating on Minerva, but they are on the mend because of Mate helping them. At the end of September Mate meets Palomino when he delivers something to Minerva's house. She decides she wants in on whatever is going on and Mate is now officially involved in the revolution. When Mate goes back to school her apartment becomes the new delivery spot. Palomino comes over regularly and he grows fond of Mate. At the end of the chapter Palomino opens up about his feelings towards Mate.
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Mate has received a new diary that was smuggled in by one of the guards. She writes down what happens to the girls in the cell and she also goes into detail about a couple of the girls. Many of the girls are interrogated weekly, especially Minerva and Sina. While in prison Mate realizes that she is pregnant and doesn't know what to do. Later on she has a misscarriage because of what happens at LA 40. At the end of the chapter we learn that Mate was taken to LA 40 to tempt Leandro, but neither would speak, so Mate was electrocuted and beaten. Minerva and Sina hold a school every day, except for Sunday, where they have meetings and discussions. In order to communicate between cells the prisoners have come up with a secret code of knocking. In order to show solidarity all the prisoners wear crucifixes and sing; known as the Crucifix Plot. Eventually the guards confiscate the crucifixes because of rumor that the Catholic Church is going against Trujillo. Near the end of the chapter we learn that the OAS (Organization of American States) is coming to investigate the prison because Trujillo has been breaking human rights. This leads to Mate being picked out to be interviewed where she drops a note out of her braid for the OAS and all the females are now freed.
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