Category: Southeast Asia

The Short Sweet Life of Nameless

The childless couple did not name her, first because she was a dog and second because they didn’t own her. Nameless was just a tolerated scavenger, a pitied-upon beggar, an overstaying visitor, but never an adopted pet. All the same,…

Prince Charming

An-an leaned down and pointed the tongs at the croissants. “This one, sir?” she asked the customer on the other side of the glass shelf. “No,” the man in pink shirt said. “The bread on the left.” “This?” An-an asked,…

Going Home

Dr. Tan removed the stethoscope from his ears and let it hang around his neck. “Can I go home, Doc?” Indo asked in a wheezing voice, buttoning up his shirt. “Not yet, Nong Indo,” the young doctor said. “We have…

Monsoon Melodies

“Grand ma, grand ma,” Tina came rushing up the stairs, one stormy evening. Grandma, who stood in the dining hall, setting a table for two, glanced at her and asked gravely. “What is it dear?” “Our cow has just given…

The Wait

Nine days after her husband left for another woman, Elda, after discovering she was pregnant, became worried. She knelt crouching over the chamber pot that morning, retching air, and spewing spit, her stomach contracting as though her innards were being…

SwaPPed

As Gautam walked through the security gate into the confines of the tech park, the only thing that was troubling him was the phone call that he received from his co worker previous night. There was seemingly a bug in…

‘Dreams for Rita’ by Julia Tan (Malaysia)

Penang, Malaysia 1997 It was late afternoon, and Rita was in the kitchen. She was sweating through her sleeveless green blouse, which created dark patches on her chest and underarms. She wasn’t bothered – the humidity was nothing to her.…

‘Meat Market’ by Josephine Crimp (UK)

Blue eyes I’m walking along the chaotic road after my visit to a temple, feeling as if I’ve really played a part in Thai culture. So many Westerners in Bangkok, they only come here for – you know. You walk…