Daring to Ask For It

Author’s photo

The lessons I learned about keeping my wishes and desires to myself started early and repeated often.

I broke my mother’s cheese plate when I was about 8 years old.
It was white, with a built-in lip around the edge, and a round raised spot on which the uncut cheese sat.
A small dullish knife with a white handle completed the set.
It broke into smithereens when I dropped it.