A marvellous short story about mothers and daughters. It’s only a half-hour read but well worth it! A woman looks back on her teenage days in suburban Toronto and how her mother was different from the others, both a domestic goddess and something like a witch, although that word isn’t used. The story is darkly funny, superbly crafted and so well-written, as you’d expect from Margaret Atwood. I sort of predicted how it would go, so I wouldn’t say there were any twists. The magic is in the perceptive relationship between mother and daughter and how it’s not certain whether the mother really has supernatural powers. To some extent she was explaining the world differently to protect her daughter, especially in an era when fathers were not usually absent. The title is interesting, because the mother is not an evil person, but a strong and assertive character. I enjoyed this story very much and recommend it if you want a short read.
Published as an Amazon Original, 2022.
Loved it!
One of the best short stories I’ve read.