The narrator relates the a perplexing dilemma in his village dealing with Mrs. Frola and Mr. Ponza. Upon moving into town, Mr. Ponza rented a second apartment across town for his mother-in-law, Mrs. Frola. This appeared strange to some but even more so when Mrs. Frola began telling people that the situation is perfectly fine because Mr. Ponza has done this so that he can have his wife (Mrs. Frola's daughter) all to himself because his love for her is so powerful. However, right after this, Mr. Ponza comes around informing everyone that Mrs. Frola is in fact, crazy. Her daughter had died four years ago and Mr. Ponza has since remarried but Mrs. Frola refuses to believe it. Mrs. Frola follows around after this round of rumors by saying that in fact, Mr. Ponza is the crazy one--so obsessed with love for his wife was he that they had to fake is wife's death and then re-introduce her later wherein Mr. Ponza believe she was his second life. The story ends with the most perplexing of notes that despite how each views the other as crazy, they are regularly seen throughout the village being friendly and caring for one another.