Hard Times

by Ruth Daigon

Originally published on August 1, 1998

Nineteen-thirty was a long, cold childhood wedged into a scar and food that filled half the cupboard. Ma’d lick the pencil stump and make her lists. Each item considered, written, erased, re-written according to what jingled in the broken tea pot. At six o’clock, she always listened to the news and groaned, her body a [...]