the departments of edatio of t stes of... california florida, ilnois... and new yo. and by the uted states partment of education... and the united states immigration and naturalizationervice.

you look tired, kathere. have late date last nig ? no such luckjess. the only man in my life is a teenager th an ehtear-old sister. you want to hea about my date, jess ? he was a blroom dancer who ved to tango. in my dreams. how's david coming withy model airplane ? hasn't he fixethat for you t ? no. - i'll ask him aut it toght. - don't bother. he's pbablgot a lot other things on his mind. the only thing on david's mi is how to get out of doi his homework. it's not funny, jess. i just got a second note from his teacher about his math and english grades. - that bad, huh ? - don't worry. 's only a passing phase. he'll geover it. - t when ? don't know if i can le that long. - hasn't he got a birthday coming

soon - next month. he'lle 14. fourteen ? he's practically man. at 14 i was working in my father's shop. would you like me to finhim a jo? e on thing i wan is for himo finishchool without failing. finished my deliveries mr. brasv. do youant me to do anythilse fore i go home ? i can't lievi'm hearing this. hat's the tter with you, henry ? oh, i was justondering if i can be of hp. - esn't sound li the hry i know. - y, i'm feeling good, okay ? does this ha anyth to do thour date last saturday ? - it might. - well, i'm glad one of us has a love life. congratulations, henry. what's the young lady's name ? oh, sara. she's in my social studies class. theyenbowling saturday night that's what i call a hot date. meaningful relatnships have started with a lot less. my goodness. how serious is this ? it isn't serious. we're just startinto get to know one another. that's thepirit, henry. don'ru into

anything. a bowling date is rdly rushing thgs, jess. are we keepi you up ? - oh, i'm sorry, mr. brashov. - do you suppose i could leave a little early tonight ? - by all mns, leave early. perhapyou' feel better tomorr. jamal, what do you know about computer? i know tt ey're ry expensive and that i can't afford one. but prices are coming wn at th. this is a closeout. it's on sale because it's lt year's mod. but it would work, wouldn't it ? sure but it would be slow. and it might betotally outdated in a couple of years are you thinking of buying a computer ? i'd be gd to help you choosene. no. ias just curious, that all oh. it wod be nice to own a compur. unless mr. brashov suddenly dides to give me a raise it's a luxury i can't afford. that makes two of us.

- jamal, do you like to dance ? - not with you. that's not what i meant. do you and jihan evero dancing ? oh, no. not anymore. wi a baby, tt's another luxury i can't afford. whdo you want to know i was just curious that's all. this is a very strange day. - i nto watch cartoons. - no way. we're tching the game. - you change that, and you're in big trouble. - what's gng on here ? all david was to watch is that stupid game. it's not a stupid game. it t cowys. th're the . so, st because e wboys e good doesn't mean it isn'stupid. besides, if they're good at something spid, that mas this game more spid. - now, that's stupid. - i'm not st ! - that's enough i'm too tired to listen to thewo of you argue. david, why can't you letour sister watch whashe was once in a while ?

because all she wants to watch is cartoons. besides, i'm tired of having to come straight home every day to baby-t her. i'm not a baby. you don't have to watcme. i never get to see any of my friends anymore. how come you havto work this seco job anyway ? i told youdavid. mrbrashov had to cut my salary, and there are bills to pay. - why is he so mean ? - he's not mean, honey. it's just for a while, until business picks up. i won't ha to keep this other job forever. ha you done ur homework yes. - david ? - i'll do later. - you ow what the teacher said. - mom, don't start. just try to get along. david, set t table. sunne, help me make the salad. what about tv ? okay. tonight david can watch football. and tomoow you can watch whatever you want. how's that ? hi, everyone. weather's rning chilly.

it's noto warm inere th. you're rht. where'vior ? he and jamal are checking t heater. did you get a little rt last night, katherine ? was up late with david helping him do his homework. a parent's work is never done, is it ? oh, d spoke to david about your model airplane. heays it should be finished soon. that great. so let's take a look at it - how about fishing our chess game, victor ? - in a moment, my iend. i ve to check e thermost first. you see, it is still 68 degrees. od eating weher ? you'll sel a lot of soup. i ready sell a lot of soup. are you sureou put a clean filter in the heat ? absolutely. then what is the problem ? remember whei toou you might need a new blowe? i remember the word "might." well, i'm raid it's time for the word "need." arblers expensive ? is that good or bad ? well, not good. okay. get the blower.

i didn really want to make a profit this mon ay. - henry. - sara, at are y ing here ? i wanted to tell y i' been appointed. to the decorating committee r the holiday dance schl. yes. well, i cat talk n. i'm at work. ve got things to do. nothing urnt. ke your time. he's a bit too shy to introduces. i'm rosa. - hi, i'm sara - that's mr. brashov and mr. washington that's katheri. hi. and jamal. hi. heo. so, what are you doing here ? that's theecond time you've asked me that. aren't youappy to see me ? oh, sure. i'm ad aren't y excited about the dance ? oh, sure. the decoti committee's going to be a lot of work, t we have some really great ideas for the gym. would you like to help us ? oh, well, i'm t very good at that sort of thing. but it wouldn't be that hard-- look.

i better get back to work before mr. bshov gets madt me. he seems like a swt man. yes, well, you don't know him like i do. ay. well, i'll see you in school tomorrow. -good-bye, everybody it was really nice meetinyou. -bye. even you, mr. brashov. ev me ? n't mind her she's just being funny. - i thought she was very nice. - so, did you ask r to the dance ? no [ sa ] what are you waiting for ? - she wants you to. , she doesn't. are you kidding ? that's why she told you about the decorating committee. - she was just making conversatn. - that's not what heard. look, i-- i have a delivery to make. i've got to go. you know, he had a deliry he really should have ken some food. oh, thers a terrific sale at taistreet empium.

why don't we go aftework ? no, thanks. i can't. come on. forty percent off on nylons. yoknow you need some. i can't go today. could go torrow instead. no, i'm busy all week. yocan't be thabusy. lookrosa just fget it. all right okay, okay. you don't want to go you don't have to go. [ narror ] today, one out of evfour families in e united states... is a single-parent family. many live in poverty stggling tfind acceable child care... and y for housing and food. money is always a concern. there's ner enough. ver enou narrator ] it's not easy providing onomic support r e family... and nurtinchil. single parts oft feel sttchein many directions...

with no one to turn to. it's not like working at department store, where you're just making some extra money. it's, it's exhauing. and it is difficul to face a small ild and all of those demands the home demands when you're alady tired to the bone. i an, evything fell into my hands. everythi from making sure the bills are paid.. to transporting the children from one poi to another. [ narrator ] the challenges of being a single parenare not new. th're just more evalentin tay's socty. yearago, maria us moz f herselin a sim posit when her husband died suddenly she was le with three young daughters to raise shwent to the united states to find work. d enrolled her daughters in a boarding hool suppoed by t mexan government.

i think we used to find comfort in thaall the children... in the boarding hool were in the same situation that we were. and then we had eachther. [ narrator ] it tk more than ten ars fomrs. munoz... to earn the come necessary to bring her daughters to the united states. e problems we had, or whatever we went through-- th's not pleasant. it wasn't pleasa for me. i'm su it wasn't for her eith. but i'm gl i'm where i am now and gues twas the only wayo get where i am, i'm glad she did it.

just a minute. be right there. henry, have you rentedhat tuxedo for the dance yet ? no. good. iaw a place near he that h a special price for new custers. thanks, but i dot need a tuxedo. formal dances are for losers. m planning somethipecial for that night-- ride in a hot air balloon , sounds very romantic. -howoes sara feel about that ? haven't told her yet, but i know she'll go r it. atutll thek e's doing toecorat e gym ? - doyou think she'll nt to be at the dance ? - ro has a point. - when iell her abt the balloon ride, she'll flip out. - maybe not like you think. have you decided yet ? t quite. - how's the na - veryood. made fresh ery day. i don't know. i'm not really in a mood for fish. - w's the meat loaf ? - excellent choice.

no, i need somet lighter. let me see. look, i n't got all day. pick something. well, if tt's your attitude, ll. aer restaurt. she decided she wast hung. see you tomorrow, rosa. henry, is something wrong ? sa doesn't wanto go baoong. she wan to go to thece. see ? i told you. so no big deal. - take her to the dance. - i can't. why not ? - i can't dance. - come on. all you have to do is move with the music. anybody can dohat. yes, tt ma r fast dances, but at formal they play a lot of slow songs. i' never danced li that. i'd just embarrassyself and sara. it's easiethan ilooks. i'll show you.

see come on. llow me. see ? youe daing. at's it ? this is easy. so far. b thean is supposed to lead. try it. hey, this fun you' aood ache rosa. i saw gene kelly do this inold movie once ready ? - sara. - just forget it.

- who is it ? - hi, suzanne. it's rosa. remember me ? i work with your mom. sure. hold on a minute. hi. come on i is your mom here ? no. do you know when she'll be back ? soon. she isn't ho from work yet. but the closed over four hours ago. not that job. her other job. oh. how long s your mom had a secoob ? ever sce mean oldr. brashov cut hesala. - yowon't tell h i told you, will you ? - i won't y anythi.

- where's your bther ? he's out. are you all right byouelf ? su. i'm used to it by now. - what are you drawing ? a picture of me and vid. may i see it ? sure. rosa, what are you dog he ? i was at the emporiu for the sale, and i bought you se nylons. thought i'd drop them of on my wahome. thanks, but i ally don't need them. that's okay. i can take them back. so, what areou really doi here ? i was worried about you. worried ? why ? because you've been acting weird. i've just been a little tired. yes, i know. she told you. it's all right, honey. i'll explain it to you later. i'like to hear. maybe you should take a look at your daughter's drawing.

i'd better go now. where have you been ? i can see that. i want to know where. just hging with some of my friends. i' see you in t morning, okay ? do you want toell me what'seen going on ? david, i thought we were trying to work together. is that why you'reever home ? do you think i like having two jobs ? then gback to dad. that's not an option. well, maybe it should be. i dot like your attitude after all i'm trying to do for you ! what havyou done for me, mo it's all right, honey.

would you like me to tell you what this word play is about ? it's all about making offers. here, i'll show you. as wve see an offer o begins with the wd 'll." but u can also use the phrase, "would you le me to ?"

would you like to know what happens in the story ? i' see what i can do. now that you have fixed the heater, jamal, it is very comfoable in here. actuallythe heater isn't on. what do you mean ? it isn't working ? no. it's beautiful day. we don'teed e heat oh, but when we do need the heat, will work ? you know, mr. brh you worry toouch. that's what you do when you run a business. you worry. we, the is fine so you areree to wor absomethinelse

thank you. i will. are you all right t even close. after you left last night, david locked himself in his room. he sllouldn't talk to me thimorning. i le without seeing him. i think i'll call home and see if they're a right. is it all right if i use the phone in yr office mr. ashov ? i'like to check on my kids. of course. is sethirong ? i'not sure. hey, are you all right ? yes, i'm okay, mr. brashov. what in the world is the matter, then - it'sara. she won't talk to me. - did you try to explain ? i keepeaving messages, but she won't call me back. i think i' go wash somdishes. wh he is happy he wants to work; and when he is uappy, he wants to work. that's cled love victor. have tlee, m brashov. there's no answe in my apartmen

vid and suzann should have beenome om school n. - d you call the school ? - yes. they left almost an hour a. - where could th go ? - i don't know. m sure they're all right. you saw what happened st night. dad's still rting because of tivorce. eir therraical deseed us, and i kw david blames me for that. you should have saomething. if there w a pblem perhaps we could have helped. it's my problem, mr. brashov, not yours. why ? we are all ke fily here anif something is wrong, everybody is affected. dad's schoolwork sfe and i can't seem to communicate with him. i thought if i could buy him a computer for his birthday, maybe that would help. so that's whu we ng me about computers. yes, b all the computers i looked at were so expensive. i had to get an extra job in the evening just to ear enough moneyo pay for it.

my childn needed me. and now they've run aw. no, we haven't, mom. - oh, you' all right ! where have you been ? what are you doing he ? david came and got me afr school. i wanted to give mrwashington back s rplane. soy it took so long. that's okay. i also wted to tell you... that i'm sorry about last night. you know what i was thinking ? -how wou you le to celebra your bihday a little early ? ur we cou go up to the lake ju the thr ous spend a long weekend together. ol ! can we go fiing ? i think so. vid has to cleathe fish. i think this calls for a celebration.

how about some ice cam ? my treat. if you don't mind, . brasv, i'd like to take david and sanne home. how about it ? see you all moow. i love hap endings. oh, mahe you young lady ? - yes. is hen here ? - he's in the kitchen. i'llet him for you. - woulyou li somethinto ? - no, thanyou. sa what are you doing here you le a message that you wanteto tell me the truth. aut her. it's not what you think. rosa and i are just friends. in fact, we are hardly even iends. we just work togher. - you two seemed etty friendly to me. - look, sara. the reason i didn't ask yo to the holiday dance was because... i can't dance. and sa was teaching me. i thought you were daing pretood.

ally ? yes. so you'll go to the dance th me i don't know. i s hoping to go with a really good dancer. but i thought you said i was pretty good. maybe you ou show me hey, look what i caught. a oto wasn't good enough. - he wanted everyo see it in person. - welcome back ! that's a whopper of a fish dad. did he givyou a good fight - he sure did. - at are you going to doith ? maybe we could serve it as special thiss a marveltc i ink we shod have a special feast just to celebrate. ohhoce ! wellwhat do you think ? nry, you'll be the mostandsome manat the dance. i'going to take a picture. [ rosa ] take it of everydy.

- come on, jess. ja you t. - l right. excu me. would you mi taking o picture ? t at all [ katherine ] smile, hen. cled-coned by ptions, inc. loangele

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