Summary

When Amalia is 13, homeless and poor in Cartagena, Colombia, a "middle-aged American" man invites her home, promising her food (1).

Twenty years later, 12-year-old Penny smokes in her father Norm's sweat lounge. Norm tells her to go to bed. Inside, Penny and her older half-brother Matt get into an altercation. Naked, Matt chases her into her room. When Penny tells her mother, Amalia, Matt tried to rape her, she dismisses Penny. In the morning she tells Norm. They discuss what happened. Later, Matt and Norm talk. Norm wants Matt to marry and establish a community. Matt is happy working as a waste compactor designer.

Eleven years later, Norm is dying in a New Jersey hospital. Penny visits him faithfully. Amalia thinks Norm should come home. Norm does not want to die before seeing his sons, Matt and Patrick. He tells Penny he wants to...