The Importance of Stories

Though a high-tech society will naturally place a strong emphasis on the sciences, the narrator of this novel also recognizes the importance of stories. Petra comes from a family with a strong connection to their culture, and Petra's grandmother has always told wonderful stories that explain, comfort, and entertain.

During their final visit together, Lita tells Petra, “You need a cuento” (2). The word “cuento” means “story.” The most important point in this statement is that Lita knows Petra “needs” this story. In this situation, the story serves as information and as a distraction. After Lita tells Petra the story, Petra admits that she had stopped worrying about what is about to happen for the time she is caught up in the story. The story itself is about the fire snake – a metaphor for Halley's Comet. The snake in this story is the "nagual...