First They Killed My Father

One month after beating Kim for stealing corn, the Khmer Rouge increase food rations. Loung recognizes that the rations will not last because she figures out the pattern of increases and decreases. Meanwhile, everyone in the family becomes more subdued. The Khmer Rouge continues to worry about the possibility of a Vietnamese invasion. When the Ungs’ neighbors disappear, Ma tells her children that in order to survive, they need to separate. She tells her children to go in opposite directions and to tell people that they are orphans. To convince her children to leave, she grows stern and tells them, “Your Pa is gone now, and I just cannot take care of you kids. I don’t want you here! You are too much work for me! I want you to leave!” (122). Reluctantly, the children leave.

Chou and Loung find a small camp with thatched huts. The camp is full of children. Fortunately, the supervisor allows them to enter. After answering several questions, the sisters are given a place to live. The camp for girls who are incapable of working in the rice fields. Each day, they do other duties in the camp, eat their rations, and listen to propaganda.