In a little green house in a city by the sea, Tina searches for a friend. The tall building crept in like weeds and ruined the neighborhood. The bulldozers crushed the houses of Tina's friends, causing them to leave. Now, Tina is alone on the stoop of her house.
Then one day, while working on her mother's garden, Tina sees a young girl next door. Tina is captivated by this girl, Little Bell, with her funny names for things and her imagination. But Mamá does not approve of Little Bell, saying, "That girl needs to learn proper talk" and "That girl needs some suitable clothes."
When Tina invited Little Bell to the house for dinner without her mother's permission, Tina senses problems ahead. And when one of the most important items for dinner preparation goes missing and Little Bell wants to help, Tina groans. What will Mamá say when Little Bell brings home her "scarecrow skins" to help make tamales?
