Some people will fight against change. They want to continue living as they always have. Instead of assimilating, they stick to their old ways and traditions. Others withdraw into their quiet world. This was the case with the new stepmother. “Even now, my first response to a frown is for the old man to walk away. My husband calls it "checking out." I remember the times early in the marriage when the girls would stay with us, and I would get out of school and go around running errands, killing time, until my husband, their father, quit his job. I'm not proud of my fears, but I understand, as they say in the jargon, where they come from” (Alvarez 700). The stepmother, in this story, has a truly unique character. She is not bossy, arrogant, dominant, proud, and does not display any stereotypical characteristics associated with a stepmother. In essence, she is the exact opposite. He is trying his best to fit in with his family. Her fear makes her want to drive for hours around the city. Do you fear an awkward situation with your stepdaughters when their father is not around? He retreats, walking away from his all-American girls. He knows what they are going through and doesn't want to hurt them even more. Relationships between stepmother and stepdaughter can be tense and this additional cultural difference only makes the situation worse. Instead of getting to know each other better, the stepmother flees the scene, also giving in to fear