The Buddha in the Attic

And even when we sent them to the Buddhist church on Saturdays to study Japanese they did not learn a thing. The only reason my children go is to get out of working in the store.

We cared only about money.

“For five dollars more I’ll do it.”

This is America, we would say to ourselves, there is no need to worry. And we would be wrong.

For they were Buddhas now, who resided in the Land of Bliss.

And even though we saw the darkness coming we said nothing and let them dream on.

They took us for granted and assumed we would do for them whatever it was we were told.

handed their money over to our bosses,

We gave birth to babies that were American citizens and in whose names we could finally lease land.