The Narrator - "Simple Recipes"
The Narrator's father is a Malaysian immigrant. He appreciates his culture and loves his daughter (the Narrator) because she takes an interest in learning about her culture and loves to cook Malaysian food. The Narrator admires her father's cooking and tries to follow his style. One day, she witnesses her father beating her elder brother because his brother dislikes Malaysian food, and this incident changes the relationship between her and her father.
Irene - "Four Days From Oregon"
Irene is not happy with her marriage and growing apart from her husband. Her eldest daughter gets to know that Irene loves a man and wants to live with him. She takes her daughters on a trip along with her lover and decides to leave her husband but, her daughters refuse to come with her and demand to go back to their father.
Paula - "Alchemy"
Paula is a teenage girl who has anxiety and hyperphagia. Her best friend doesn't understand her changed behavior and starts avoiding her. Paula elopes from her house because she can't bring herself to tell her friend that her father abuses her sexually.
