the bean trees sparknotes literature guide barbara kingsolver

Taylor tells her that there are more important things to consider: Esperanza and Estevan will get a whole lot worse than prison and a fine. Mattie warns Taylor of the dangers of transporting illegal immigrants. Taylor tells Lou Ann that she is going to drive Esperanza and Estevan to a safe house in Oklahoma, and while she is there she will find Turtle's relatives. Jonas Wilford Armistead, and an Oklahoma City address. When Taylor asks whether she'd rather see Turtle stay with her than at a state home, she says 'there has never been any doubt in my mind about that.' After the visit, as Taylor leaves, a secretary rushes after her with a note from Cynthia: 'I appreciate your sensitivity in not wishing to discuss April's custody in her presence.' And below there is a name: Mr. Cynthia tells Taylor that she is on her side in this. She tells Taylor that in some cases, exceptions are made. Taylor makes an appointment with Cynthia, and they discuss 'proof of abandonment' and the cornerstone of an adoption of this type would be the written consent of the child's natural parents. Mattie tells her that she is asking the wrong question: she is asking whether she can give this child the best possible upbringing and keep her out of harm's way her whole life, when she should instead ask if she wants to try to do so. Mattie tells Taylor that she knew that she was a new parent when she first met her at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. Mattie had not yet found a way to get Esperanza and Estevan out of Tucson, much less to a sanctuary church in another state. But when Lou Ann met Taylor, she knew that Bonita Jankenhorn had more than met her match. When Taylor appears ready to give up the fight, Lou Ann says that 'I thought we were best friends, but now I don't hardly know who in the heck you are.' Lou Ann tells her a story about Bonita Jankenhorn, who was the smartest and gutsiest person she knew, doing crossword puzzles in an ink pen. Lou Ann becomes angry at this news, and tells Taylor that she must fight for Turtle. Whether or not Taylor can qualify to become her guardian depends on income and stability. She says that the state of Arizona has a claim on her, and she is a ward of a state.

Taylor receives bad news from Cynthia: it had come to her attention that Taylor had no legal claim to Turtle. She does talk to Cynthia, the social worker, about the 'bad man' and how Edna Poppy 'popped him one.' Taylor realizes how ridiculous her pep talk to Esperanza was, for there is no point in treating a person suffering from depression as though she were just feeling sad. She never does anything with the anatomical rag dolls, except for planting them under the social worker's desk blotter.

As the social worker predicted, Turtle proves resilient.

The bean trees sparknotes literature guide barbara kingsolver