Short stories for children: Bembem could not have guessed how hot the u-morok chilli is

The aroma of soiboom eromba filled the air of the makeshift kitchen in the courtyard. The older cousins were helping Meme’s mother prepare the eromba, the ingredients of which had been pre-boiled. One was peeling the small red potatoes; another was sorting out the inch-cut taro stems and the fermented bamboo shoots, soiboom. The eldest was mashing red chillies with ngaari into a thick paste. The paste would then be mixed with the rest of the ingredients.

It was the third day after a full moon. The night-blooming jasmine was dispersing its sweet fragrance. The cousins had specifically requested Meme’s mother to arrange their small party in the courtyard, under the clear night sky.

Bembem did not have cousins on her father’s side, and she hadn’t visited her maternal cousins in a long time. She loved the banter among Meme’s cousins. It reminded her of the occasional visits to Ima’s natal home when Ima was in the prime of her health. She saw her mother’s demeanour change to that of a little child’s whenever they were there. Bembem cherished that side of her mother – laughing freely, her hair open, swimming in the river holding a brass pitcher, and plucking berries. Bembem had often thought if…

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