Back in college, a professor of mine once said that art—in any form—has the ability to make people uncomfortable if properly executed. Not in a bad, cringey way, but the kind that makes you think and see the bigger picture within the medium.
I recently read (note: binged for hours) Jessica Zafra’s The Stories So Far, which is a 100-page collection of short stories. This is the first time I’ve read any of her works, and the stories within this book ARE a mix of shock and relatability set in mundane, true-to-life situations. It’s a much-needed shift from mushy love stories and fantasy novels.
Throughout the 10 short stories in the book, half of them revolved around the life of Jude—from her childhood to adulthood. Needless to say she is the book’s consistent protagonist. Each story showed different dysfunctional facets in her life which were too real and discomforting because they can happen to anyone—and that’s what made it intriguing. It makes you think, “What if I were in her shoes? What if I was already in her shoes?”
As mentioned, these stories weren’t solely designed to make the reader cringe at the situations she, or any of the characters were in. They should also make you think of how much you or anyone can resonate with them. And with that, here are my two cents on Jude’s five stories. (BTW, if you don’t like spoilers, then click exit right now.)
#1 “Concussion”
The situation: We start with eight-year-old Jude growing up in an average dysfunctional family who constantly pressured her to be the ideal daughter—smart, literate, and fluent in English, among some of them.
What stuck to me: What was noticeable was how destructive her parents were and how it’s become a normal occurrence in their household. They constantly scream at each other and one even instance showed her dad almost shooting her mom. And yet, they’re still together. But why exactly? That’s something I’ll never understand, but it’s a good thought to ponder on.
#2 “Heavy Metal”
The situation: Here, you get a glimpse of the young adult Jude grew up to be―a girl concerned about body image and a boy’s acceptance.
What stuck to me: Body image is a common issue among women. What I found jarring about this story is her practically boasting that she has bulimia, and saying this line: “That was exactly what I wanted to hear. Not ‘You’re so smart’ or ‘You’re hilarious,’ but ‘Your body is fine.'” Another point of interest is the fact that she doesn’t care if she’s someone’s sidepiece or that her health’s deteriorating as long as she has the guy’s affection.
#3 “Spelling Bee”
The situation: We see young Jude again and her bickering family. This time, her mom’s accusing her dad of infidelity. And, same as the previous one, she’s in the middle of all of it, expected to be the ideal daughter.
What stuck to me: It wasn’t actually that bothersome, but it was quite amusing how she defied her parents’ expectations of her by losing the spelling bee contest. It was a simple yet telling protest of a child who doesn’t want to be the perfect daughter for parents like them.
#4 “A Dinner In Paris”
The situation: Adult Jude looks a lot more promising than the young adult one. Here, she travels to Paris and stays with a friend who, coincidentally, also has a horrible marriage.
What stuck to me: Besides the fact that she was mistaken for a maid because she’s Filipino, it’s this line: “No matter what enthusiastic perky act you put on, you can sense disaster coming, and you know it’s your fault. Do you really want to be part of a metaphor for a disintegrating marriage?” This can be a probable hint that maybe her parents have (finally) separated, and that she’s blaming herself for it.
#5 “Clear”
The situation: Jude’s mother suffered a stroke and eventually went into cardiac arrest.
What stuck to me: They always say that we will be responsible for taking care of our parents when the time comes, and Jude upheld that promise to her mother despite her difficult upbringing. However, by the end of the chapter, she seemed indifferent over what happened to her mom. That, or she was too tired to express any emotion.
Photo courtesy of ManilaMommy’s Instagram
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