santiago, the widowed man and his daughter often argue, mainly because his daughter is going through a divorce and her father, santiago prefers she not divorce. later as the daughter and her husband argue over divorce matters in the presence of their young son, santiago engages the boy in conversation about snow: that the only time he saw snow was when it was bought to puerto rico by plane. santiago, looks for employment but is interviewed by someone who is obviously not interested in hiring him because of his age.