Martha had three small children. When she sniffed thinner, she became violent and tried to bury a knife in any man standing close to her. El Chiquilin lived on the streets because his stepfather beat him. When the stepfather went to jail, he returned home to his mother. Mimi became pregnant in jail, gave birth at a hospital, and a couple of days later left the ward with her newborn son in her arms. The younger children gave her food and helped her look after the baby. The baby was never given a name. The others in the gang called him El Niño--The Child. It was the simplest name they could think of. This book is dedicated to El Niño and to all the other children whom I have met on the streets.
