How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
They were all looking at the water now. Hungry.
"You think they even know we're here?" Moon Girl asked.
Pima spat in the sand. "We're just flies on garbage to people like that." (5.69-71)
The three—Moon Girl, Pima, and Nailer—are looking at a clipper ship, which is a symbol of social class (no, really—check out the "Symbolism" section). They want to transcend social boundaries, but Pima believes it's not possible. Because she assumes that the swanks who own the clipper ship have disdain for her, she chooses to have disdain for them. It's hard to correct these preconceived notions of class.
Quote #2
"Just saying what we all know. Pima's worth ten of Bapi, but it don't matter." (5.105)
Moon Girl explains that just because Pima is a better person than Bapi, the ship breakers' crew boss, doesn't mean that Pima has more opportunities. Her opportunities are limited because of her life's circumstances, and she won't rise beyond where she was born because she doesn't have the money or the opportunity.