The Barbarian Nurseries

Brandon explains to the adults about the journey he and his brother went on over the previous few days. However, his explanation is conflated with what he imagined along the way. He tells them that they saw Fire-Swallowers and refugees from the City of Vardur. He explains how they stayed with a woman who had a slave boy and then went to a party where there was a fire burning under the ground before fighting off a lynch mob. The parents, Olivia Garza, Detective Blake, and Ian Goller don’t know what to make of this story. The official child psychologist thinks that “he’s just read too many books” (278). Olivia Garza thinks that this story supports Araceli’s version of events, since Brandon said they were going “to look for the grandfather” (279). Ian Goller fights against this, pushing for the parents’ version of events.

The psychologist suggests they just drop the case, but the others know that “once you amassed as many resources as they had, it took a bit of courage to simply dry out: Sorry! False Alarm!” (279). For as much of a fuss as this was, “some grown-up had to be held responsible” (280).

Ian Goller insists Araceli is at fault; he knows the world is watching and seems to be planning to use public outrage to at least have Araceli deported.

Scott and Maureen welcome their sons home and try to settle back into their routines. However, a helicopter is still flying overhead, and reporters are outside. The police tell them that the reporters won’t leave until Maureen and Scott give a statement. Maureen tells Scott they need to go together, to defend themselves because “people are talking about our family. All over the city” (283).

The Spanish news also picks up the story, which results in other Mexican maids and nannies working just a bit harder, to assuage their suspicions.

Ian Goller coaches Maureen and Scott, telling them that the sheriff’s department has revealed to the reporters that Araceli was “trying to, quote, ‘rescue’ your children because you had, quote, ‘abandoned’ them” (285). According to Goller, this is because they need to explain how they “could simply release an illegal immigrant onto the streets” (285). He tells them that if the press keeps asking questions about negligence, eventually CPS will get involved. He tells them to make a statement expressing their thanks and happiness to be reunited, nothing more.

Scott and Maureen go out, and Scott gives a short statement just as Goller had coached. However, one reporter antagonizes them, finally asking: “It’s a simple question. Did you abandon your children to this illegal immigrant?” (287).

Maureen snaps and shouts “That’s a lie! […] How dare you!” (287). She is sleep-deprived and desperate, and shouts in an act of self-defense. When pressed further, however, she does not explain and walks away.

Upon Araceli’s release, all of her things are returned to her in a plastic bag, which surprises her. In Mexico City, the cops would have taken her things and demanded a bribe to release her. She calls Marisela and asks to stay with her.

Meanwhile, a woman in South Whittier, Janet Bryson, watches the news report that says Araceli has been released and is furious. She had become hooked on the story of Brandon and Keenan, watching the 24-hour news cycle nonstop. She considers “Araceli Ramirez, the nanny kidnapper, and all other Mexicans in her space” as a wild invasive species (290). She has seen more and more Hispanic families move into her neighborhood and resents them. Worst of all, her own son “was beginning to talk English like a Mexican” and hang around fixing cars with his neighbors (292). She sees in the Torres-Thompson boys her own son, and so hates Araceli. When she sees Maureen shout on the TV, Janet “shared her sense of motherly indignation, and felt herself instantly freed from the state of vibrating meaninglessness” of being alone (293). She turns on her computer, ready to “rally the troops” to her cause (293).

Maureen tells her friend, Stephanie Goldman-Arbegast, the entire story and how they are “living this media plague” (296). Stephanie shows her the comments from an LA Times article—half support Maureen and express distrust in Araceli, the immigrant, while half support Araceli and call the Torres-Thompsons over-privileged and negligent.

Maureen is resentful of the backlash, when Araceli’s supports didn’t even know” that the Mexican woman disliked Maureen’s children. Stephanie is outwardly supportive, but “she sensed that Maureen would soon add her voice to those seeking to punish Araceli, and she did not approve” (298). She decides not to judge Maureen, who is simply trying to be a good mother.

Brandon and Keenan listen to Stephanie’s children tell them about their trip to Europe, and then they tell their own story. One of the boys leaves a book with Max, a book he knows his parents wouldn’t approve of.

Scott, meanwhile, talks to Peter Goldman, feeling guilty for causing Araceli’s likely prosecution. Ian Goller tells Scott and Maureen that CPS is going to investigate them; having decided to take the side of the Torres-Thompsons, Goller cannot allow himself to lose. He tells them that they have to defend themselves, to tell their story, and “erase the idea that you’re just this crazy family” (306).

Stephanie disapproves when Maureen takes the information for a reporter Goller knows. She thinks Maureen “should be telling the story of the broken coffee table” (306). She also recognizes that Maureen and Araceli are very similar—hardworking perfectionists. Maureen will give the interview and not mention the domestic turbulence to “protect the family image” (307).

Araceli has breakfast with the Covarrubias family. Octavio is impressed and a bit awe-struck with her story. He encourages Araceli to speak with a reporter for a Spanish-language channel, but she ignores the suggestion. Araceli can’t believe what has happened since “that first rabble of barbarian gardeners, the men who took machetes to Pepe’s tropical forest” (311). She has disproven what she thought she knew and sees the word differently, “like Brandon, who saw fantasy and wonderment in everything new” (311).

Maureen gives her interview to the reporter in their house, which she has carefully staged to emphasize a normal, loving family. The newsman asks her about her family and their background; she gives an amended account of the past days, “burying her subtle falsehoods in a larger truth unknown, until now, to the millions who had followed the story” (314). Many people in the comments on the website start to express sympathy for her.

She explains the strange art in Araceli’s room and the bizarre account of the journey the boys described. The reporter plays the clip of Maureen shouting during the previous statement she and Scott gave to reporters. She explains: “I was completely wiped out. Plus, I couldn’t even see this guy, because he was standing near the back. And here I am, the mom of these two kids who’ve been taken away, and he’s accusing me” (315). The interview airs that night.

Araceli watches the news with Octavio and Luz and sees several “experts” debating the morality of leaving children with nannies. The men shout and have red faces. She thinks, “it is frightening to think that the brain behind that face could somehow shape her fate” (317). Although she wants to run, she decides to wait and prepare herself for whatever comes next.

The next day, a reporter and photographer arrive at the Covarrubias household, ready to cover Araceli’s second arrest. While they take photos of her, Araceli shouts: “No les tengo miedo! […] I am not afraid! No. why I be afraid? For nothing!” (320).

The police arrive to take her into custody. All through the neighborhood, “an invisible but audible panic was unfolding around them” as people believe that the police have arrived to deport illegal immigrants (321). They arrest Araceli for “felony child abuse. Child endangerment, to be precise” (323). Araceli is indignant, knowing that the “faces on the news had persuaded the authorities to invent any reason to detain her” (323).

Janet Bryson continues gathering support for her campaign to have Araceli deported. She organizes a letter-writing campaign. This allows her to feel like part of a larger movement.

Suddenly, John Torres, Scott’s father, appears at the house on Paseo Linda Bonita. Maureen is not happy to see him, as she has not forgiven him for referring to Keenan as “the white boy” and Brandon as “the Mexican” (327). He saw the report on television and decided to come see what’s going on. He notices that someone needs to mow the lawn and takes it upon himself. Maureen notices that he cuts it perfectly.