Mom was proud of me when I did with less, when I went without.
I had holes in my slippers. My baby toe stuck out on one foot and my heel on the other. The soles were peeling away from me. It was cold.
But she was proud of me.
Funny thing is, I don’t remember her ever having holes in her slippers. Maybe she did but I don’t remember it. I just remember my ragged slippers and all that was missing.
-Antonina