Tony wakes to find Carmen standing still, jokingly asking if she is “pretending to be a statue” (33). The children begin to tease, but Carmen quickly puts on her coat and tells Mrs. Grasso that she wants to go to school early.

She leaves the apartment and walks to the stable to see Rosie. There she passes Mr. Pallo, who is caring for the horses while Mr. Vita is away. Carmen takes Rosie out for a ride without a saddle, heading toward the harbor. The steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves, usually soothing, feels jarring rather than comforting her. She strokes Rosie’s neck and wonders who will care for her after Carmen leaves.

As she rides, Carmen recalls how Papa used to speak with hope about America, telling her that “a person can be anything they want to be.” She contrasts this notion with her memories of southern Italy, where “you couldn’t be anything you wanted to be” (35). She reflects on how women in her former village are expected to marry and raise families—something she hopes to do one day, though she also dreams of more.

Rosie stops near a playground, and Carmen dismounts.