It’s evident from the beginning that Elena holds an admiration and fearful respect for Lila, engaging in terrifying adventures that she would otherwise never attempt, not only because Lila does so, but also for the sense of excitement and thrill that comes along with them. Up to this point, beginning a new chapter in their education had been something that stimulated both Elena and Lila. Lila’s persistence and intense and even violent arguments with her father eventually results in him giving in to her demands and allowing her to attend middle school. Afterwards, to Elena’s great surprise, although Lila begins attending school, she ends up skipping classes repeatedly. Lila even expresses relief when she becomes ill, simply because it prevents her from attending school. She ultimately ends up failing and afterwards, when Lila’s family decides that she will work alongside her father and brother in the shoe shop, to Elena’s disbelief, she witnesses a newfound pride and delight in Lila whenever she discusses the art of repairing and making shoes. This is emphasized by her deep concentration whenever Elena watches her at work from the shop window. The passion of Lila’s words and actions has several tremendous effects on Elena. Formerly, she would brag about her academic excellence to Lila, expressing an underlying insecurity ever since she had become second to Lila’s extreme intelligence and abilities. Now, not only is Elena struggling to keep up with the difficult and faster pace of middle school education but she also finds herself questioning whether or not this education is necessary or even desirable. She expresses her doubts and sorrow when she narrates, “…seemed to me the best people in the neighborhood. Above all, I came home with the impression that, not spending my days in a shoemaker’s shop, having for a father a banal porter instead, I was excluded from a rare privilege. I began to feel that my presence in class was pointless” (99). She wonders if anything fruitful can result from the constant studying and even when she attempts to apply herself, she does so without a hint of passion and purpose. She now believes that Lila and her family are or should be the most respected and esteemed people in the entire neighborhood because they hold a talent for creating something not only beautiful but also of use to everyone, regardless of status, with the added promise of comfort. Elena desires to be included in having this rare ability and opportunity to learn the ins and outs of shoemaking. However, her own father, unlike Lila’s father does not have an exciting job, according to Elena. These thoughts, however, stem not from a desire to become a successful shoemaker but rather from the wish to discover the brilliance of every occupation that grasps the attention of Lila. In other words, if Lila decides that she has an interest in something, whether it’s to discover a new place, advance her education, or making shoes, Lila’s rollercoaster of passions takes Elena along for the ride.

Yet another effect that this newfound enthusiasm of Lila has on Elena is her overwhelming ‘unhappiness,’ (99) as she calls it. This becomes evident when, almost as a side note, Elena begins describing Lila’s physical traits as she watches her at work from outside the shop. She recounts, “Coming out of school, dazed by unhappiness, I passed Fernando’s shop only to see Lila at her workplace, sitting at a little table in the back, her thin chest with no hint of a bosom, her scrawny neck, her small face,” (99). Elena now not only lacks a yearning to grow in her learning but also has a hint of envy. Instead of solely mentioning how she watches Lila at work, she outlines Lila’s tiny stature and lack of physical maturity, implying that, at the very least, Elena feels superior in this respect because she has, in fact, developed a bosom, and grown in weight, giving her the appearance of a healthy and developing young adolescent. This is a defense mechanism for Elena because she continuously alludes to Lila’s physical characteristics, especially at her lowest points of insecurity throughout the novel. Although not ill-intentioned, this quote expresses Elena’s attempt to undermine the many talents of Lila. As mentioned before, ever since Elena discovered that Lila is intelligent and bold whether it comes to academics or everyday life, she has struggled to keep up with her everchanging interests, realizing that the only aspect of her life in which she feels superior is a physical one.