Published by Serviette
Words by Rebecca Gao
Illustration by Haley Jiang
Looking back at The Mortar so far, we’ve had some pretty long stories. And also some pretty heavy stories. I love that stuff, so expect to see more of it, but today’s selection is shorter, lighter, and ideal for reading on the move. I’d love to know what you think to it, and to The Mortar as a whole, so if you have anything you’d like to say, please just hit reply and let me have your suggestions, comments or questions. I promise I’ll reply to everyone!
Decades of moving around – first from China to Canada, and then from rental to rental in Toronto – meant that my parents amassed a small army of chopsticks, adding to the collection each time we settled in a new home. When I open up their kitchen drawer, I’m confronted with a stockpile of mismatched chopsticks of varying lengths, colours and materials, a frustrating collection that requires some excavating to find a matching pair. Desperate to be different, I decided I would invest in a set when I moved into my first apartment. Something ornate and decorated with paintings of orchids, elegant and far from the clutter of my childhood. This dream pair would serve excitement with each meal and, crucially, wouldn’t require rummaging.