Daily Dinner Disaster

Alice Yang ‘29

This piece is about the creation of me, although it applies to anyone who has ever felt like they were made up of mismatched, tainted parts. It describes who I am as a person and tries to figure out why I am the way I am. This was written for everyone who feels disgusted in their own skin.

Alice Gao ‘28

This graphic novel showcases playful representation of my childhood and how my Asian family expressed love the best way they knew how: food. Growing up, I would constantly push away the vegetables and meat my grandma, mom, or dad kept piling in my bowl. I didn't understand it then, but over time I realized that it was their way of saying "I love you." Now, you won't see me refusing food from my loved ones anymore. Maybe just to bitter melon.

How to!

Welcome to the kitchen!

Today we’ll be making yours truly!

First, gather your ingredients. 

A tilted smile, long limbs, and soft nose. 

Make sure to sprinkle some loudness and confidence in there.

Gather your self-respect--actually, that might be a little expired-

Throw that out and replace it with some compliance. 

Next, let’s mix. 

Combine two people who were never a good fit for each other,

A hardworking woman with a man whose first and only thought is himself. 

Mix until the two blend into the perfect cacophony of shouting and rage and clenched fists. 

Make sure the consistency is just right—they have to be just warm and distant enough to make you chase for more.

Once you’ve completed this, let’s add in some flavoring. 

Slowly pour in the venomous words, rumors, insults--for character development, of course.

Stir in a storm of a man--who promises everything and gives nothing--daddy issues is a sought after flavor after all. 

Now, let’s transfer our creation into the oven, 

Take it into a place where she feels safe, then turn up the heat. 

As soon as it’s ready,

Remove from the oven and lay her down. 

Remove her from the pan and promise that you care. 

Now, the fun part! Decorations!

Score the surface of your creation--nice little flowers, then handprints.

Because that’s what makes the perfect cake. 

Drown her in frosting now, cover up the scars and pray that it hides the still uncooked center. 

Lay down the fondant, muffling the mess underneath. Stay silent. Stay pretty. Stay compliant. 

You’re almost done!

Carefully place her into a glass case to put on display,

For everyone to watch and stare at and point to buy.

They’ll never know that there are holes in the back of the fondant or grains in the frosting.

They won’t know the center can’t hold up the cake and is relying on sticks and glass. 

It’s just a display, why should so much care go into the making process?

As long as it looks pretty, 

The customers will come.