The Book of Unknown Americans

After asking around about her, Mayor finally meets Maribel. He is in the store with his mother, Celia, buying underwear to replace some laundry of theirs that was recently stolen at the laundromat, when Alma and Celia become acquainted. As the two discuss places to buy decent Mexican groceries, Mayor eyes up Maribel, whom he finds attractive. When he learns that she is going to Evers School, the special education school, he decides that there is something wrong with her, something that might explain her unusual clothes and unkempt hair.  

An immigrant from Nicaragua, Benny recounts his experiences travelling to the U.S. Though he originally trained to become a priest, Benny stole money from the church collection basket to travel north. He was able to pay for his passage to Arizona but once there, he was held in a de facto prison by the men who brought him there. These men kept him locked in a house until he could get them additional money. Benny calls relatives asking for help but eventually turns to selling drugs like other men locked in the house with him. After being assaulted by a junkie, he decides to travel to Baltimore then to Delaware to get away from his life of crime.