Through flashbacks, points on politics and independence are strongly brought out, since the political struggles for independence in Belize at that time also mirrors Beka's own need for self-rule and her developing maturity. Beka's father (Bill Lamb) cuts down Beka's favorite tree (a bougainvillea) as a sign that the wild ways Beka had picked up must stop at once when she finally tells him that she has failed her exam.
The narrative is reinforced through flashbacks, which emphasize pivotal points in politics and self-determination, mirroring Beka's own quest for autonomy and personal growth. When Beka confides in her father (Bill Lamb) about failing her exam, he symbolically cuts down the bougainvillea tree she cherishes, signifying that her carefree nature must be tempered.