Chapter 5 The meat she took home

Before Nora left the shop that evening, Musa handed her a small black nylon .

"You've worked well today," he said simply. "Take this."

She was surprised. "Oh... thank you."

"No need for thanks," he replied. "It's part of the job."

The bag was warm. Heavy. She didn't open it - she just smiled, nodded, and tucked it into her tote bag.

When she got home, her aunty was in the kitchen, boiling water.

"Where are you coming from?" she asked.

"The butcher shop. I got the job," Nora said, proudly.

Her aunty raised her brows. "Good for you."

Nora placed the bag on the table and unwrapped it. Inside was clean, red meat - neatly packed, soft, and fresh. Even her aunty was impressed.

"Mmm. This smells good," she said. Then her eyes narrowed. "Wait... what kind of meat is this?"

Nora paused.

She hadn't asked.

Musa didn't say.

"I... I think beef?" she said quietly.

Her aunty looked at her, then at the meat again. "This doesn't look like normal beef. You sure it's cow?"

Nora said nothing.

That night, she couldn't sleep.

Why didn't she ask?

What kind of butcher doesn't tell you the type of meat he's giving you?

She made up her mind.

Tomorrow, she would ask Musa - directly