15606. "THE MOTHS" BY HELENA MARIA VIRAMONTES. This paper discusses the role of the grandmother in the short story about a Latina girl growing into maturity. Through her bond with her grandmother, the girl is able to find a sense of spirituality and self-esteem that she could not find in either the Church or her male-dominated home. The symbolism in the story (especially in the final scene, where the girl bathes herself and her dead grandmother) is also discussed. 6 pages, 22 footnotes, 4 bibliographic sources.