The story follows a young Meta, who is in search for a better life and therefore decides to find a job in a near village, where she meets a boy named Ožbej. His father disapproves of the relationship and because of that, they don’t get married. This eventually leads them to have 9 children outside of their marriage. Ožbej spirals into alcoholism and Meta is left to care for the children by herself and work at the same time. Because of the lack of time she has to take care of them, she rather teaches them to grow up into “self-caring” individuals. Shortly before her death, she fathers them all in the dining room and gives them the “final speech”, where she explains to them how they should back down for no one.
This novella is very short, yet very powerful in its message. Meta presents a beyond matriarchal figure, that (dare I say) transcends any masculine figure in Slovenian literature. Although she may not be a “perfect” mother at first glance, she taught them in a very unconventional method and did beyond her best with the resources she had available.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.