in the reading, "my favorite chaperone", It can be said that Maya may have received permission to go to the dance because she helped so much at home when her mother broke her ankle. She cleaned houses for her and made dinner at home every night. If Mama didn’t break her ankle, do you think Maya would have been permitted to go to the dance? Why or why not?
It is difficult to say for sure whether Maya would have been permitted to go to the dance if her mother hadn't broken her ankle. However, based on the information provided in the reading, it seems unlikely that Maya would have been allowed to go without her mother's injury.
Maya's mother is portrayed as being very protective, traditional, and strict when it comes to matters like attending dances. She is concerned about Maya adopting American customs and wants her daughter to adhere to their Muslim and Uzbek traditions. Maya's mother even says, "We don't do dances" when Maya asks about attending the school dance.
Maya's help around the house, including cleaning houses and making dinner, can be seen as her way of proving herself responsible and mature enough to handle attending the dance. Maya's actions show that she is willing to take on adult responsibilities and help her family during a time of need.
If her mother had not broken her ankle, it is possible that Maya's help around the house might not have been as necessary or evident. Maya's mother may not have seen her daughter's efforts and responsibility, which could have affected her decision to allow Maya to attend the dance. Without the extra help and responsibility taken by Maya, her mother may have remained firm in her decision that dances are not part of their traditions.
Overall, although it cannot be stated definitively, it seems that Maya's assistance during her mother's injury played a significant role in her mother's decision to permit her to attend the dance.