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Author Archives: Ray Pereira
Secrets
Everything seemed so normal the next day. I saw Raju sober, walking down the street, a basket of empty bottles and old papers balanced precariously on his head as he shuffled slowly on his way to the market. Raju’s wife … Continue reading
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Violence across the road
The family of ‘Bothal Karayas’, was loud raucous and violent. The men would drink all weekend, argue with each other and regularly beat the women in the compound. One lazy Sunday afternoon as I was playing by myself I heard … Continue reading
Posted in Sri Lanka
Tagged alcohol, alcoholism, childhood, domestic violence, family, fiction, neighbourhood, poverty, resolutions, violence, writing
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Us and Them
The street we lived in, like the country, was home to a diverse mix of people. A Buddhist businessman and his family lived a few doors down from us. They lived in a large house, had two cars and three … Continue reading
Alice and her hoppers
I used to look forward to eating Hoppers on Sunday mornings. A typical Sunday of my childhood would start with seven thirty mass at St Anthony’s and then back home to hot hoppers for breakfast. Quite often, my cousins would … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged childhood, culture, fiction, fictional writing, food, hopper, hoppers, identity, memories, sri lanka, sri lankan cuisine
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Grandmother
It rained heavily that night; my first night back after many years overseas. The South West monsoon roared its welcome as streaks of lightning lit up the black sky outside my window. I listened to the familiar sound of the … Continue reading
Posted in Sri Lanka
Tagged catholicism, charity, childhood, faith, family, fiction, god, grandmother, identity, monsoon, poverty, religion, sin, sri lanka, torrential rain
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Mango dreamtime
I feel alarmed, then alarmed and nauseous, hoping he won’t force me to eat it, accompanied by a lecture on nutrition and the benefits of fish eyes and fish oil. He should have been a doctor, my father. He claimed … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, Sri Lanka
Tagged africa, childhood, coconut, culture, developing countries, fiction, identity, memories, scent, sri lanka, sri lankan, West Africa
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Fish eyes under the mango tree
The sun burns my forehead as I seek refuge under the mango tree on the way back to my hotel. Beads of sweat run down my forehead and drip down my nose. Droplets suspended momentarily like little bubbles before bursting … Continue reading
Another new best friend
“Hey Mister. Mister. Mister White”. The butcher is yelling out. “White man. Look! Want to buy?” I turn around and suddenly realise he is talking to me. The tourist group is nowhere in sight. The butcher holds up a slimy … Continue reading
Posted in Africa
Tagged aboriginal, africa, apartheid, color, colour, fiction, goat head soup, Hausa, identity, market, sri lanka, sri lankan, tourist, travel
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Voyeur
Hard bargaining is the order of the day as I try to find my way out of the labyrinth that is the market. I am surrounded by loud animated conversations, shouting and gesturing. Raised voices firing bullets of tonal syllables … Continue reading
Posted in Africa
Tagged africa, Australia, identity, market, nationality, tourism, tourist, travel, West Africa
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