Short Story: Fair-Weather Frenzy by Dyta Utari

Dyta Utari shares a powerful story exploring the pervasive issue of debt within Indonesian society, illuminating the nuanced ways it shapes relationships and individual identities.

In front of Mrs. Mien’s house, there are hundreds of bricks and a pile of fine sand. Two workers are running back and forth pushing a wheelbarrow, while two others are mixing cement. She’s got a pretty nice pension, which lets her renovate her bathroom. Mrs. Mun spots that Mrs. Mien’s door is wide open. She pops in to say hello. Not long after, Mrs. Mien appears in her house dress. Mrs. Mun gets taken to the living room and served a plate of homemade cassava chips. They’re catching up; Mrs. Mun asks if Mrs. Mien’s cool living solo in that big house, and Mrs. Mien says her daughter swings by with lunch all the time, and ‘this big house’ is still smaller than Mrs. Mun’s place. Mrs. Mien asks Mrs. Mun about the new job in her department. Mrs. Mun says it’s easier now since she got a demotion for being considered not productive enough. Eventually, Mrs. Mun spills why she’s really there, and Mrs. Mien listens closely though her expression changes.