Answer:
In this chapter, Esperanza wants to eat in the school lunch room, the canteen, because she is under the impression that "the special kids" eat there. To her, not returning home for lunch seems to be an exciting prospect. After finally convincing her mother to let her take her rice sandwich to the canteen, Esperanza's illusions are shattered when a nun makes her point to her house from the window and tells her she lives too close and cannot eat there again.
Step-by-step explanation:
Esperanza envies the kids who get to eat lunch in the canteen at school instead of having to go home for lunch. She pesters her mother to write her a note giving her permission to eat at the canteen and to pack her a lunch. Her mother is reluctant at first, but after it becomes clear that none of the other kids will need bag lunches, she writes a note for Esperanza and packs her a sandwich, one made of rice since the family cannot afford lunch meats. At school, Sister Superior does not accept Esperanza’s mother’s note, saying that Esperanza lives too close to school and must go home to eat. The Sister points to some rundown tenements up the street, accusing Esperanza of living there. Esperanza is embarrassed and nods her head, even though the buildings the nun points to are much more rundown than her own house. She gets to eat at the canteen that day but is too upset to enjoy the experience.