The story begins with Amanda telling David about unique worms inside her body. Amanda confesses that she is motionless, but can talk. David is curious to understand when Amanda came into contact with worms. The story of the worms inside Amanda’s body is thrilling David. Now Amanda starts explaining how she contracted the mysterious disease. One day, she went on a vacation with her family. A few days later, she befriended Carla, David’s mother. Carla requests Amanda to train her on how to drive. Amanda is trying to explain the story to David but keeps on forgetting some details of which David wonders whether it is because of the nurses’ injections.
As Amanda continues telling the story, David interrupts her regularly insisting that some details are not important. However, Amanda keeps on narrating the story. During the vacation, Amanda and Carla keep interacting. At some point, Carla informs Amanda that she (Amanda) doesn’t see eye to eye with her son. Carla explains to Amanda what transpired before David started behaving strangely. The reader understands that David suffered the same disease troubling Amanda. As well, her daughter, Nina, suffered from the same disease. Although Amanda is ailing, she seems concerned about Nina’s well-being and safety.
Samanta Schweblin seems to be using the story to caution people against the dangers of pesticides. Large-scale farmers, particularly in Argentina, the home country of the author, have the tendency of spraying toxic chemicals carelessly on their farms without considering the potential risks. Toxic chemicals are dangerous to both adults and children.
