Melita is a poor but beautiful inner-city Mexican-American Catholic girl who is embarrassed about her pregnancy and considering dropping out of school. She is shunned by her peers because of her teen pregnancy and is only really close with her teacher, Mr. Cartmenez, whose Mexican identity she relates to. Mr. Cartmenez has suggested Melita get an abortion but Melita is unsure because of her strict Catholic upbringing which frowns upon abortion