Dear Cousin Alex,
I think I may have just discovered the sources of all these weird feelings and occurrences these past weeks. I went to the doctor a few days ago to get a sore on my foot looked at. While speaking to the doctor, he asked about the kind of foods I work with in the fields and whether my foot was ever submerged in water. Given that I wake up very early before the sun comes up, the water used to irrigate the fields is generally still there. These past few months I have been working in nut fields including the Cycad nut. According to my doctor, Cycad nut poisoning can cause paralysis and helps explain the general moodiness and change in my behavior that I have been experiencing. I am in shock just thinking that doing my daily work could be causing this kind of harm to my body.
The doctor said I must let the owner of the fields know immediately that he has not been treating his Cycad nuts properly to avoid poisoning. I am worried however, that if I do so I will lose my job out of his anger and overall inability to show any mercy or remorse. I feel like I have no choice but to continue working the fields and eating the nuts as I have no other way to make a living or help sustain my family.
I've let my mother know to stay away from the fields. This means I might have to work double shifts as her loss of income (albeit less than what I make) is going to hurt our already dying family much more. I am still behind several weeks rent and John isn't exactly the type to forget these kinds of outstanding debts. I will write again in a few weeks depending on how things over here progress. Hope things are going well Alex.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
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