Uprising

Bella’s sleep is disrupted by the Luciano baby’s cough. Bella approaches the bedroom door with a proposed cure. Unaware that Bella is listening, Signora Luciano pleads with her husband to “use Bella’s money” (124) to go see a doctor. Bella demands to know if her money has been sent to her parents as they’ve promised, and Signor Luciano tells Bella it doesn’t matter because her family is dead. He explains that Pietro received a letter from Italy saying her family died from an epidemic.

Distraught, Bella runs into the cold street with no shoes. She sees faces leering at her from alleyways and contemplates stories about girls used by men “for horrible deeds” (128). Bella sees the sun coming up and fears losing her job. She makes her way to the factory using directions from a stranger in the street.

Rocco is waiting for her at The Triangle. He tells her his parents were good people back in Italy, but in America they have become obsessed with money. He shows Bella the letter, which he found in Pietro’s things after he left. He can’t read Italian, but he points to her village’s stamp and the priest’s signature. Bella hopes that the letter might say her family’s not dead.