The characters of this novel are spiritual people that believe in signs, metaphors, religious affiliations, and dreams. Perfecto particularly in the beginning of the second half has stronger dreams about his past lover and still born child calling him to return home. Perfecto knows he is getting to old to support this family, but why does he not only feel that he cannot support them but also have to leave them to return "home". The home Perfecto is searching for is not as clear or as vivid as the dreams and "feelings" he is receiving but he knows he must do it. In his dreams his past lover or former wife Mercedes beckons him to come home and return to "us" which Perfecto feels is the unborn first child they had together (99). He must be feeling some guilt left over from the death of their first born because it is why Mercedes left him, mentally and physically, dying on the inside.
Perfecto also gets feelings of the death of Alejo when he is brought into their home withering away from a mysterious aliment. "He could feel the boy's death under his bare feet as he carried him" (101). Perfecto foresees Alejo getting worse, knowing he cannot ignore this feeling, only driving him at this point to want to leave more. Perfect also feels guilt over leaving the family because he knows Petra works as hard as she can and he is thankful for her, but somehow it is not enough.
Alejo before he feels sick, has a gravitational pull towards Estrella ever since he caught her taking a dip in the irrigation canal. He "feels" like he must get to know her. Alejo tries to take to her but she is standoffish in the beginning when he invites her into conversation, she starts to warm up to him when he offers a few sips from his soda. He tries to be around her and make small talk about tar pits, where he starting kissing her hand and that once lead to something more. Alejo's cousin may have a sneaking suspicion something was going on with Alejo but cannot figure out what it is. Another "feeling".
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