The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

This is from the chapter "Sire". This chapter relates Esperanza's first experience of having an older boy- a "punk" according to Papa- stare at her. Soon after, Sire's girlfriend Lois arrives. Esperanza admires her petite, childlike beauty- but Mama warns against this type of girl, "the ones that go into alleys." From her bedroom window at night, Esperanza hears the couple talking and laughing, and wonders what it will be like to one day sit outside with a boy.