Breasts and Eggs

Employers harassed them for ‘being inappropriately dressed’ or ‘not having the right attitude’, and held their wages ransom. Customers thought the right to harass young women came with their purchase. The girls stowed away repulsive, frightening experiences with males deep in their hearts without even realising it.

What was strategic about that? What was so cost-effective about being on your own? How was work so lucrative and alluring if this was how it manifested in the body? No, this was the truth she’d brought back from the dark place. Independence had always been an illusion.

“Elder Brother, I’ve been worried sick about you. But things will be better now … Look back there. There’s a shipment of food coming through customs.” The first thing he unpacked when he got inside was a box of moon cakes for us kids to eat, followed by a sack of rice, three bags of cornmeal, two cans of cooking oil and some wheat flour. Before any