Chapter One Summary

Marito is an eighteen-year old young man, living with his grandparents in Miraflores, Peru. He works as a news editor and director at the local radio station Panamerica, while studying law at the University of San Marcos. His pay is modest but he enjoys the work and the flexibility it allows him to do his own writing. When Marito gets bored with his duties at Panamerica, he goes next door to Radio Central. Panamerica and Radio Central are both owned by the Genaro family but are completely different genres. Panamerica offers serious radio with the educated upper class in mind as the audience. Radio Central has a more comfortable atmosphere and their programming targets the masses. Their most popular features are their weekly serials or radio soap operas.

Marito has a weekly Thursday lunch with his Aunt Olga and Uncle Lucho...