funding r crsroads cafe was provided in rt... the departments of edation of t stes of... california florida, illinois. and new yo. and by the uted states partment of education... and the united states immigration and naturalizationervice.

you look tired, katherine. ve a late date last night ? no such luckje. the only man in my life is a teenager th ehtear-old sister. you want to hea about my date, jess ? he was a blroom dancer o ved to tango. in my dreams. how's david comi withy model airplane ? hasn't he fixed that for you t ? no. - i'll ask him aut it toght. - don't bother.

he's probablgot a lot other things on his mind. the only thing on david's mi is how to get out of doing his homework. it's not fny, 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 ? 's practically man. at 14 i was workg in my father's shop. would you like me to finhim a jo? e on thing i want is for himo finishchool without failing. finished my deliveries mr. brashov. 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 justonring if i can be of help. - esn't sound li the hry i know. - y, i'm feeling good, okay ? does this ha anyth to do withour 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 at's what i call a h 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't 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 means, leave early. perhapyo feel better tomorr. jamal, what do you kw about computers ? i know tey're ry expenve and that i can't afford one but prices are coming down at th. this is a closeout. it's osale 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 and it might betotally outdated in a couple of years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 yochoose one. no. ias juscurious, that's all oh. it wod be nice to own a compur. t 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 want to watch cartoons. - no way. we're watcng 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 the wboys e good doesn't mean it isn'stupid. besides, if they're good at something spid, that mas this game more stupid. - 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 what she was once in a while ? because all she wants to watch is cartoons. besides, i'm tired of having to co straight home every day to baby-t her. i'm not a baby. you don't have to watch me. 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 it later. - you ow what the teaer 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's vior ? he and jam are checking t heater. did you get a little rt last night, katherine ? i was upate with david helping him do his homework. a parent's work is never done, is it ? oh, d spoke toavid 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 the therst first. you see, it is still 68 degrees. od eating weher ? you'll sell a lot of soup. i already 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 thison ay. - henry. - sara, at are y doing here ? i wanted to tell y i' been appointed. to the decoratg committee r the holiday dance school. yes. well, i can't talk n. i'm at work. i've got things to do. nothing urnt. ke your time. he's a bit too s 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 seme ?

oh, sure. i'm ad aren't y excited about e 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 not very good at that sort of thing. but it wouldn't be that hard-- look. i better get back to work before mr. brashov 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 fun. - i thought she was very nice. - so, did you ask r to the dance ? no [ sa ] at are you waiting for ? - she wants you to. - , she doesn't. are you kidding ? that's why she told u about the decorating committee.

- she was just making conversatn. - that's not what i 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 tain street empium. why don't go aftework ? no, thks. i can't. come on. forty percent off on nylons. yoknow you need some. i can't go today. could go tomorrow instead. no, i'm busy all week. you can't be thabusy. lookrosa just forget it. all right okay, okay. you don't want to go you don't have to go. [ narror ] today, o o of everfour families in e united states... is a single-parentamily.

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 rrator ] it's not easy providing onomic support r the family... and nurtinchil. single parts oft feel sttchein many directions... wi 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. [ rrator ] the challenges of bein a single parenare not new. th're just more evalent in tay's society. yearago, maria esus moz f hersel a sim posit

when her husband died suddenly she was le with three young daughters to raise shwent to thunited 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 that all the children... in the boarding hool were in the same situation that we were. and then we had each other. [ narrator ] it took 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 wt through-- 's not pleasant. it wasn't pleasa for me. i'm su it wasn't for her either. but i'm gl i'm where i am now and guif twas the only wayo get where i am, i'm glad she d it. just a minute. be right the. henry, have you reedhat tuxedo for the dance yet ? no. good. i saw a place near he that a special price for new customers. thanks, but i dot need a tuxo. formal dances are for losers. m planning somethipecial for that night-- ride in a hot air balloon , sounds verromantic. -howoes sara feel about that ? haven't told her yet, but i know she'll go r it. at aut all thek e's doing toecorat gym ? - doyou think she'll want to at the dance ? - ro has a point. - when i tell heabout the ballooride, she'll flip out. - maybe not like you think.

have you decided yet ? t quite. - how's the na - very good. made fresh ery day. i don'know. i'm not really in a mood for fish - w's the meat loaf ? - excellent choice. noi need set lighter. let me see. look, i ven'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 the dce. see ? i told you. so no bideal. - 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, that ma r fast dances, but at formals they play a lot of slow songs. i' never danced li that. i'd just embarrass myself and sara. it's easieth 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 acher,osa.

i saw gene kelly do this inold movie once ready ? - sara. - just forget it. - who is it ? - hi, sunne. it's rosa. remember me ? i work with your mom. re. 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. - e's your brother ? he's out. are you all right byourself ? sure. 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 ? was at the emporiu for the sale, and i bought you se nylons. thought i'd drop them of on my home. thanks, but i ally don't need them. that's okay. i can take them back. so, what are you really doi here ? i was worried about you. worried ? why ?

becae you've been acting weird. i've just en a little tired. yes, i know. she told you. it's all right, honey. i'll explain it toou later. i'like to hear. maybe you shou take a look at your daughter's drawing. i'd better go now. where ha you been i can see that. i want to know where. just hging with some of my fries. i' see you in t morning, okay ? do youant to tell me what'seen going on ? david, ihought we were trying to work together. is that why you'reever home ? do you think i like having two jobs ? then go back 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 you can also use the phrase, "would you le me t?" would you like to know what happens in the story ? i' see what i can do. now that you have fixed the heater, mal,

it is very comfortable in here. actually, the 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 need the heat, will work ? you know, mr. h 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 not even close. after you left last night, david locked himself in his room. he sllouldn't talk to mehis morning. le witho seeing m. i think i'll call home and see if they're all rht is it all right if i use the phone in yr office mrashov ? 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 mesges, but she won't call me back. i think i' go wash some dishes. wh his happy he wants to work; and when he is uappy, he wants to work. that's clove victor. have tlee, m brashov. there's no answe in my apartmen vid and suzann should have beene 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 last night. dad's still rting because of theivorce. eir therractical deseed us, and i kw david blames me r that. you should have saidomething. if there w a pblem perhaps we could have helped. it's my problem, mr. brashov, not yours. why ? we are all ke fy here. anif something is wrong, everybody is affected. dad's schoolrk sferi and i can't seem to communicate with

him. i thought if i could buy him a coer for his birthday, maybe that would help. so that's why u were king me about computers. yes, but all the computers i looked at we so expensive. i had to get an extra job in the evening just to earn enough moneyo pafor it. my childn needed me. and now they've run away. 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. vihas to cleathe fish. i think this calls for celebration. how about some ice cam ? my treat. if you don't mind, mr. brasv, i'd like to takeavid and sanne home. how about it ? see you all moow. i ve hap endings. oh, mahe you young lady ? - yes. is hen here ? - he's in the kitchen. i'llet him for you. - woulyou like somethinto ? - no, thanyo sa what are you doing here you le a message that you wanteto tell me the truth... aut her. it's not wt you think. rosa and i

are just friends. in fact, we are hardly even iends. we just work together. - you two seemed pretty friendly to me. - look, sara. the reason didn't ask yo to the holiday dance was because... i can't dance. and sa was teaching me. i thought u were dancing pretood. ally ? yes. so you'll go to the dance with me ? i don't know. i was hoping to go with a really good dancer. but i thought you said i was pretty good. maybe you shou 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 marveloutch. i ink we should have a special feast just to celebrate. ohhoce ! wellwhat do yothink ? nry, you'll be the mostandsome nat theance. i'going to take a picture. [ rosa ] take it of every. - come on, jess. you t. - l right. excu me. would you mi taki our picture ? not at all [ katherine ] smile, hen. cled-captioned by ptions, inc. loanle

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