In Michael Byers’ short story, "Malaria" he discusses how one person can have an enormous impact on someone's life, even if it's not clear immediately. The story begins with Byers explaining how the relationship between Nora Vardon and Orlando started. They both met while getting coffee from a vending machine and from there things progressed to dating. They both bond with each other due to them both having crazy families; Nora with depressives and schizophrenics in her family, and Orlando with having alcoholics in his. Nora is studying botany at the college, and Orlando is working there answering phones in the alumni office. He has no real ambition in his life at this point. They eventually travel to Vancouver, British Columbia to visit Nora's parents, Jack and Annette Vardon. On their second day there, Orlando meets George, who is Nora's brother. George challenges Orlando to a game of tennis, which Orlando wins. George claims that he lost due to having Malaria, which he got from Ecuador. Orlando finds this statement puzzling since he knows George has never been to Ecuador. Later, Orlando runs into Jack while he is on his way to take a shower. Jack congratulates him for winning against George. Orlando casually brings up the fact that George…show more content… Annette picks them from the bus station where she downplays George's mental illness. When they arrive at the house, they go upstairs to talk to George. George looks the same, but he is skinnier. George starts to talk about how he still hears voices in his head, but now it is more like background sounds. Sensing that Nora and George want to be alone, he leaves George's bedroom. Orlando starts to feel guilty about not telling anyone about George's malaria statement which he now sees as an early worrying sign of his mental state. When he tries to apologize to Nora about this, she reassures him that there is nothing they could have done to help
