A Council of Dolls

by Mona Susan Power

One thing I’ve learned from scary movies is that monsters might be slow, but they never give up until you kill them.

Wanáȟča Wašté Wiŋ. ‘Woman Whose Good Works Bring Flowers.’ It’s a beautiful name but can be heavy on one’s back. I hope I didn’t give you too great a burden.”

I want my parents to be in love both ways, not Dad by himself. So I fall in love for them, over and over again.

Maybe English is safer to me because it doesn’t mean anything, because its words are empty to me. No heart. Sometimes when you lose a lot, you have to put your heart away to keep it ticking.”

The point is that even in difficult times, see how the light is always working to come in. Don’t forget to notice.”

How when a dream comes true you have to feel deserving or else it brings only guilt and shame.

This place upends my childhood teachings, and what my parents value is denounced: personal dignity becomes defiance, generosity is foolishness, sympathy seen as weakness, too much curiosity considered impudent, and courage is the highest offense, being viewed as rebellion. I wonder how these people have flourished on the earth; they can be so unkind and perverse.