“Laetitia had not left home with my mother’s blessing, but over time my mother had come to be proud of the fact that Laetitia had done all of this on her own.”

This line is spoken by the narrator and introduces two important recurring elements: the central conflict between Laetitia and her mother, and the portrayal of both women as strong, capable characters, which will continue throughout the text.

“You’re just angry that I want to see the world.”

This line is spoken by Laetitia, in response to her mother’s critical attitude toward her decision to leave. This quote encapsulates the main conflict between Laetitia and her mother: Laetitia wants to leave the reservation behind and explore, while her mother values tradition and staying where they have always been. This quote shows that Laetitia is skilled at identifying the root cause of her mother’s behavior and is not afraid to make it known.

“Both men swaying back and forth like two cowboys headed for a bar or gunfight.”

This sentence describes the US border patrol officers. The officers approach the situation in a confrontational manner and are ready for conflict. The imagery invoked by this simile highlights the power dynamic between the law enforcement officers and the narrator and his mother.