Melba's Wash, Volume 166

In this fractured familial story, Esther Prat reflects on the secrets, lies, and pain that haunt her life. Born on Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, as an infant she is unceremoniously taken to Montreal, Quebec, to spend the first ten years of her life with an affluent Jewish family. Upon the death of her daddy, she is not allowed to attend his funeral and is taken back to the poverty stricken environment of her family of origin. The culture shock results in emotional and spiritual torment, undermining her self-esteem and sense of identity. On into life, marriage, children, divorce, a devastating flood, geographical moves, and a battle with pharmaceutical drugs, she struggles to maintain equilibrium and balance of past and present.