Shame the Stars

by Guadalupe García McCall

“We’re being watched,” she whispered, leaning into me as we took to the floor and swayed with the music. “Mamá is intrigued, but Madame Josette knows exactly who you are.”

I scanned the room as we turned in the waltz. Doña Serafina sat at a table to our left. “I think Madame Josette is trying to distract her,” I whispered, sweeping Dulceña farther away from the two women. “Where’s your father?”

“Against the far wall, to your right.” Dulceña dipped her head in that general direction.

Don Rodrigo was talking to Mr. Simmons, our neighbor over by Las Moras and co-owner of the sugar mill. “He looks busy.”

“Yes, but not for long. He’ll be joining Mamá soon, and they will want to know who I’m dancing with,” Dulceña whispered. Taking my lead, she twirled beautifully under my uplifted hand. The ease of our movement together surprised me. We hadn’t had occasion to dance with each other in more than two years, not since our parents stopped socializing. It felt good to hold her in my arms again.

Excerpt from Shame the Stars

Question
Use the passages to answer the question. Select Passage 1 and Passage 2.

Which plot element is present in both passages?

(1 point)
Responses

A young man and woman from feuding families fall in love.
A young man and woman from feuding families fall in love.

A young woman rebels against an overly protective mother.
A young woman rebels against an overly protective mother.

A young man and woman choose death rather than be kept apart by their families.
A young man and woman choose death rather than be kept apart by their families.

A young woman falls in love with a man already married.

1 answer

The plot element present in both passages is:

A young man and woman from feuding families fall in love.