Together Tea

by Marjan Kamali

Darya eyed the Styrofoam cup in Miranda’s hand. How rude. People here always ate and drank in front of others, when the others weren’t eating and drinking, which in Persian culture was considered beyond uncouth.

“These children of ours do not know the pain of prolonged prostration under the piddling paucities of pauper politicians turned princes,”

She remembered that a few years ago she’d embarrassed Darya at a family gathering because the hostess had asked her if she wanted a piece of cake, and she had said yes.