(image by foundphotoslj via flickr)

Saturday, July 15, 1989. Gaby Martinez walks her twin eight year-old girls across the cul de sac at the end of Liberty Ave to visit their neighbor's house for a birthday party. Today, Irina Paczkowski turns nine and her mother, Dorota, has invited the entire neighborhood to celebrate.

The Paczkowski's, recently arrived to Scottsdale, are the only non-Mexican families on Liberty Ave so when Gaby and her girls enter their back yard, all three smile at the sight of a giant white piñata. Games are played, hot dogs are boiled and a cake is served. Finally, Dorota guides Irina under the piñata and hands her a broomstick. But when the swatting begins Gaby's jaw drops: the piñata is empty.

Bolting through the gate, Gaby manages to run home and back – in pumps – before Irina lands a direct hit. As the neighborhood kids close in, Gaby empties a plastic bag over their heads, showering them with chocolate breath mints and a dozen snack-sized bags of M&M's.