Into the Beautiful North: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Nayeli watches men burning the plastic sheaths off of wires and is shocked to see the Pacific Ocean on their right. Plastic bags float on the wind, and all around the base of the trash mountain are graves. On one hill are the graves of children; Tacho points out names written on baby furniture. Next to this part of the cemetery, Porfirio stops them in front of a blue shack and ushers his guests inside. 

Tacho made the mistake of purchasing rum as a gift when he went to purchase eggs, and now, hours later, Porfirio dances drunkenly. Tacho primly sips his rum, and Nayeli, Yolo, and Vampi just sit on a bunk bed and stare at the filth. Araceli slices potatoes and onions and fries them in lard and then fries the eggs. Porfirio stops his jig to arrange six plates around a table and place two rolls on each plate. He cries as he says grace, and they eat their feast. A while later, a piglet and a duckling wander in. Porfirio throws them bits of his roll.

Yolo claims the top bunk for herself, and Tacho insists on sleeping on the floor. Nayeli shares the bottom bunk with Vampi, who mutters, kicks, and tosses in her sleep. At dawn, Nayeli gets up and goes outside. She's startled to see blooming roses planted around the couple's fence line, she but continues on down the alley. She hears a Dave Matthews song coming from a radio and feels as though this is the loneliest, saddest, most profound place she's ever been. The sorrow is almost comforting.

Nayeli wanders among the graves, straightening headstones and putting flowers on one. At the top of the hill, Nayeli turns and looks back. Suddenly, she hears a young man calling for her attention. Nayeli tells the man that she's not going to listen to him, and he says that that's a mistake.