FIRST REAL PAYCHECK

2013; Wiley; Volume: 101; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/tyr.2013.0041

ISSN

1467-9736

Autores

ELISABETH MURAWSKI,

Resumo

7 2 Y F I R S T R E A L P A Y C H E C K E L I S A B E T H M U R A W S K I Christmas break, a temp job, o≈ce clerk in the shoe factory. Mind-breaking work – I saw manila folders in my sleep. Not a dream when Martha, quick to speak her mind, sniped at my attitude. Shame, guilt, a chill in my gut. She was full-time, selfpossessed , her confidence strong as the silk of Madagascar’s golden orb spider. I was sixteen, a thinskinned perfectionist without the will or nerve to confront, defend myself. There’s a picture of me in third grade, wistful and haughty in the eyes. I look like a long-lashed seal at the zoo, popping up from the pool, staring down her nose at the crowd. Which came first to the clown, sadness or disdain? What prompted Martha’s scorn? 7 3 R I filed away the hurt, my puzzlement, with the scent of new leather wafting in to our workspace, those beautiful shoes I could not a√ord. ...

Referência(s)
Altmetric
PlumX