/ TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1. you were born in march. your hands and feet were soft and lovely, the hair on your tiny head was black as night. pretty child, what a pretty child. don't change.
2. you will grow up in sunlight. don't run around in some kind of wild freedom; hold it in. i'll teach you to lock away emotion, teach you to be silent and obedient. yes, good girl. step lightly, now, stay quiet.
3. wake up, wake up! it's time for school. God forbid you miss a day of school. and when you return home, you'll be right back at your desk, doing homework until the sun sets and it's time for bed. and then we can do it all again tomorrow! doesn't that sound nice?
4. you can't play soccer or basketball or something like that— no, no, those are boys' games. stay soft and pretty; play piano and sing, dance on tiny feet. yes, what a girl! what a pretty, pretty girl. good girl, stay quiet.
5. oh, it's time for college now! look at you, all grown up. now remember, no boyfriends, no boy friends, be careful not to get caught up in drinking, smoking, or having fun. pay attention to your studies, and no, of course you can't choose your own college! no, stay close to home and study engineering. doesn't that sound nice? doesn't that sound nice?
6. you can't fall in love. no, that's ridiculous. only married people fall in love. speaking of which, here's a lineup of marriage proposals left at your door. pay careful attention to their pay, how much money they're making. oh, you're not doing it right! here, I'll just choose one.
7. silly girl, you can't cry at your wedding! dry your tears, didn't we teach you to hold that in when you were small? silly girl, don't forget your lessons.
8. all sons, all sons, please! maybe a few daughters— but mostly sons. yes, mostly sons. who else will take care of you when you're old? and by the way, you'll need to quit the job you spent years working towards. come on, how else are you supposed to take care of your children? don't you want to be a good mother? don't you?
9. your hair is graying, and there are wrinkles near your eyes! I guess it's time for retirement. you'll die in your parents' old country, let go of your home. you're not a little girl anymore.
10. yes, lean back your head, struggle for breath. I guess you'll be buried in this foreign land, underneath a coconut tree.
empty,
and unfulfilled.
// WRITTEN FROM THE BLACK & HEARTLESS VOICE OF TRADITION
