11/11/2020 Girl The New Yorker

26, 1978

B Ja aica Ki caid
J e 19, 1978

W
ash the hite clothes on Monda and put them on the stone heap; ash the
color clothes on Tuesda and put them on the clothesline to dr ; dont alk
bare-head in the hot sun; cook pumpkin fritters in ver hot s eet oil; soak our little
cloths right after ou take them o ; hen bu ing cotton to make ourself a nice blouse, be
sure that it doesnt have gum in it, because that a it ont hold up ell after a ash;
soak salt sh overnight before ou cook it; is it true that ou sing benna in Sunda school?;
al a s eat our food in such a a that it ont turn someone else s stomach; on Sunda s
tr to alk like a lad and not like the slut ou are so bent on becoming; dont sing benna
in Sunda school; ou mustnt speak to harf-rat bo s, not even to give directions; dont
eat fruits on the street ies ill follo ou; b Id i g be a S da a a a d
e e i S da ch ; this is ho to se on a button; this is ho to make a buttonhole for
the button ou have just se ed on; this is ho to hem a dress hen ou see the hem
coming do n and so to prevent ourself from looking like the slut I kno ou are so bent
on becoming; this is ho ou iron our father s khaki shirt so that it doesnt have a crease;
this is ho ou iron our father s khaki pants so that the dont have a crease; this is ho
ou gro okra far from the house, because okra tree harbors red ants; hen ou are
gro ing dasheen, make sure it gets plent of ater or else it makes our throat itch hen
ou are eating it; this is ho ou s eep a corner; this is ho ou s eep a hole house; this
is ho ou s eep a ard; this is ho ou smile to someone ou dont like too much; this is
ho ou smile to someone ou dont like at all; this is ho ou smile to someone ou like
completel ; this is ho ou set a table for tea; this is ho ou set a table for dinner; this is
ho ou set a table for dinner ith an important guest; this is ho ou set a table for
lunch; this is ho ou set a table for breakfast; this is ho to behave in the presence of
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11/11/2020 Girl The New Yorker

men ho dont kno ou ver ell, and this a the ont recogni e immediatel the slut

I have arned ou against becoming; be sure to ash ever da , even if it is ith our o n
spit; dont squat do n to pla marbles ou are not a bo , ou kno ; dont pick people s
o ers ou might catch something; dont thro stones at blackbirds, because it might
not be a blackbird at all; this is ho to make a bread pudding; this is ho to make
doukona; this is ho to make pepper pot; this is ho to make a good medicine for a cold;
this is ho to make a good medicine to thro a a a child before it even becomes a child;
this is ho to catch a sh; this is ho to thro back a sh ou dont like, and that a
something bad ont fall on ou; this is ho to bull a man; this is ho a man bullies ou;
this is ho to love a man, and if this doesnt ork there are other a s, and if the dont
ork dont feel too bad about giving up; this is ho to spit up in the air if ou feel like it,
and this is ho to move quick so that it doesnt fall on ou; this is ho to make ends meet;
al a s squee e bread to make sure it s fresh; b ha if he bake e e fee he b ead?;
ou mean to sa that after all ou are reall going to be the kind of oman ho the baker
ont let near the bread? ♦

P b i hed i he i edi i f he J e 26, 1978, i e.

Ja aica Ki caid ha i e e b k , i c di g See N The , A

S a P ace, a d M B he . A e edi i f he a e e i A g
F e i be b i hed i Dece be .

M e: Chi d e We I die

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